120 Strcckci — A AVin Spadrfoot n-ith Cthcr Herpetological Notes. 



caught a two-foot fxaiiii>lt' on the Bo.sque lliwr, about live miles north 

 of Waco. In February of this year a specimen 'A^ feet in length was 

 caught on a honk on a "trot" line in the IJrazo-^ Uiver not over a mile 

 south of AVaeo. 



The Waco specimens may ])os<il>ly have escaped from captivity but 

 ^Ir. Hubt)y informs me that tlie Dallas specimen liad every appearance 

 of being an old residenter and was killed in a form among drift material 

 which it had i)robal>ly occupied for some time. 



Zamenis constrictor flaviventris Say. 



The western vai-iety of the blue racer or black snake is very variable in 

 color. A specimen (ill' mm. in lengtli, collected near Waco l)y Dr. J. L. 

 Kesler, repre.'^ents the transition stage between the spotted (young) i)hai-e 

 antl the jtlaiu colored adult and is worthy of description. 



Color above, olive green, darkest on dorsal region. Head brownish- 

 olive, unspotted. Iris yellow. Upper surface of body with black spots 

 on the scales, the-^e disappearing on the ))Osterior sixth of its length. 

 These spots form broken rhomboids along the dorsal line and are edged 

 with chestnut. <>uly about two nut of every four scales show the black 

 coloration. On separating the scales on the lateral portion of the body, 

 the skin shows l)lack underneath. Along the lateral line (rather, point 

 of division) every other scale is marked with a black i\eck. Tlie chin, 

 upper and lower labials and anteorldtal scales are pure white. Under- 

 parts light yellow, changing to white in the anal region aud on the tail. 

 From two to four blackish spots, surrounded by pink, on i-ach gastrostege. 

 U[)per surface of tail brownish-olive, unspotted. Superior lal)ials 7-7. 

 Ventrals 175. This s|iecimen coml)ini>s the characters of the eastern and 

 western subspecies. In anotlu'r s})ecimeu 4o(l mm. in length the doi-sal 

 blotches were bright n-d. 



Coluber emoryi B. it <i. 



Two examples of this species were recentlj' captureil near Waco and are 

 now in the Baylor T/niversity ('ollection. The first, an adult i)40 nun. in 

 total length, was sent in alive and was the most pugnacious snake that I 

 have ever handled. When first rec(Mved it was in sfilendid condition, 

 indicating that it hail taken food ipiitc recently, .\liout tiie end of the 

 third week of its captivity it became restless and an examination disclosed 

 the fact that it was preiniring to shed its skin. Thinking to hasten the 

 operation, I oH'ered it eggs, mice, toails and li/.ards but it absolutely re- 

 fused to accept anything in the way of food. ( )ne morning about a wt'ck 

 later I found it deail in its cage, with the skin of the side- loosiMied in 

 patches and the new skin underneath oidy partially formed. 



The second examjyle was a young female about 4(t(i nun. in length. ISoth 

 were captured on a |)rairic farm some live or six miles from the city. (>nr 

 common Colaber (C. nhsulctnK coujiuus H. ik ( J. , according to A. F. i!rown 

 or C. spiloides D. ct B. according to Cojje) inhaiiits tindiered districts 

 and is a better dispositioned snake. 



