182 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Mar., 



opposite the anus; in one individual also along the tail; in most, 

 however, it is prominent only on the neck. Nowhere does it have 

 the color of the lateral stripes except possibly on the neck region. 

 When the body is distended the intervals between the scales have 

 regular light specks or lines as T. sauritus. Rarely the lateral 

 stripes become more or less obscure, but not wholly absent. The 

 dorsal stripe covers the median dorsal rows and two half rows and 

 the lateral stripe is on the 3d and one half on the 4th row of scales. 



Dimensions and Variations. — The specimens vary in length from 

 31-71.5 cm. (12|-28 inches). The latter length compares favorably 

 with T. sauritus lengths, but the specimens may average smaller than 

 that species, though the average of the ten specimens is 48 cm. (19| 

 inches). The extreme slimness of the species acids to its diminutive 

 appearance. The tail ranges from 11.2-23.5 cm. in length or 2.9- 

 3.25 (average 3) times in the total length. The gastrosteges vary 

 from 149-159, average 154, where Ruthven's extreme begins and 

 almost coincident with his lower extreme for T. sauritus. In all 



6235 g235 6123 



Fig. 13. — Thamnophis sauritus sackeni (Kenn.). 



the anal plate is entire. The urosteges range from 95-114, in better 

 accord with the range of Ruthven's T. proximus and far below his 

 range for T. s. sackeni. The scale formula is 19-19-17, except in 

 one where only 19-17-17 obtains. The oculars are 1-3 except in 

 two instances, in one specimen (No. 6,123) they are 1-4 on both 

 sides, in another (No. 6,235) they are 2-3 on the right side and 

 normal on the left; the supralabials remain constantly 8 for all the 

 specimens and the eye rests on the 4th and 5th supralabials; the 

 infralabials are 10 except in two specimens where 11 were recorded 

 on the right side. The temporals are usually 1-2, rarely 1-3; if 

 the third row be counted, it may be 2 or 3 or rareh^ 4 in number. 

 All in all, the relationships of T. proximus, sauritus and sackeni 

 become closer as possible intergrading localities are studied, and no 

 distinction proves so constant as the supralabial character which 

 is not absolute. 



Habits. — This attractive snake is, to our minds, even more aquatic 

 than T. sauritus, and may be found about the open water courses, 

 on the open "prairies," along the wooded parts of the" Suwanee 



