FAMILY COLUBERID^E. 43 



THE STRIPED SNAKE. 



TrOPIDONOTCS T.KNIA. 



PLATE XIII. FIG. 27. Variety. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Coluber sirtalis ? LlN. 



C. triple rang''. Lacepede, Vol. 2, p. 131, pi. 4, fig. 2. 



C. tamia. Die Band Schlange. Schcepff, Reise, Vol. 1, p. 496. 



C. terordinatusl Latreille, Hist. Reptiles, Vol. 4, p. 70. 



C. triple rang. Daudin, Vol.7, p. 151. 



La Couleuvre sirtale. Daud. Hist. Reptiles, Vol. 7, p. 146. 



C. sirtalis. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Researches, p. 116. Storee, Mass. Report, p. 221. 



Tropidonotus sirtalis. Holbrook, N. Am. Herpetology, Vol. 4, p. 41, pi. 11. Kirtlaxd, Ohio, p. 188. 



Characteristics. Body robust ; tail short, suddenly tapering, one-sixth of the total length. 

 Greenish brown, with three light-colored stripes along the body. Length 

 2-4 feet. 



Description. Body stout, covered with oblong strongly carinate scales, with the exception 

 of a series of what may be termed accessory abdominal plates along the flanks ; these, how- 

 ever, under the lens, show a slight carination. Head pyramidal, flattened above, with four 

 series of plates behind the rostral plate, the posterior or occipital largest. Rostral plate rather 

 more upturned than in the following species. Fifteen labial, including the rostral plate, above, 

 and twenty-one beneath. The intermediate plates between the second pair of gular plates, 

 narrow, subequal. Numerous minute recurved teeth, in the jaws and palate. Tail short, 

 rapidly attenuated to the tip ; often calcarate, or with a horny tip. 



Color. Above darkish brown, and in some lights an olive green.* Three greenish yellow 

 stripes along the whole length of the body ; one on the centre of the body, and one along 

 each side. The dorsal stripe commences a short distance behind the occipital plates. The 

 lateral stripes, after passing the vent, become confounded with the general color of the tail. 

 A row of obsolete black spots (in spirits usually very manifest) on each side of the dorsal 

 stripes, and a similar series on the upper margin of the lateral stripes. These spots are fre- 

 quently alternate, occasionally confluent. Beneath, neck yellowish white ; abdomen and tail 

 greenish yellow, with occasionally irregular black spots on the upper edges of the abdominal 

 plates ; these are sometimes effaced, and their places supplied by a cloud of brownish : this 

 is, however, rare. In the young the stripes are greenish (blue in spirits), the dark dorsal 



* It is rare to find, among the ophidian reptiles, any two of exactly the same shade of color, even when alive ; this appearing 

 to depend upon the latitude, season, and plentiful or scanty supply of food. In cabinet specimens, these discrepancies are still 

 greater ; and colors, which in the living subject are scarcely apparent, become very conspicuous after having been immersed in 

 liquors of different strength and qualities. A good guide is much wanted to exhibit the changes which certain colors undergo 

 after immersion in spirits. It has been ascertained that the brilliant green of reptiles changes to dull blue ; yellow changes to 

 white ; the black, brown and metallic colors remain unaltered ; red becomes brownish, or is finally obliterated. It may not be 

 unimportant to add, that by exposing a reptile which has been for some time in spirits, for a short time to the rays of the sun, 

 we may, by the reflected light, form some judgment of the original markings. 



