102 SEVENTH REPORT. 



of the females. In the matter of oculars and loreals the males would thus seem to be slight- 

 ly more variable. Averaging these four percentages of normality for each sex a mean 

 of 85 % males and 84 % for females was obtained. Again bringing out the remarkable 

 similarity between the sexes. 



COMPARISON OF BLUE RACER, GARTER SNAKE AND WATER SNAKE. 



The number of specimens at hand is not sufficient for conclusive 

 proof, but if, as seems probable, a larger number of specimens should 

 confirm the facts here given, the blue racer shows an interesting diverg- 

 ence from the conclusion of Clark and Sperry concerning water and 

 garter snakes, that the females in these two genera are decidely more 

 variable. 



Young blue racers show a tail greater than the adult, as do both 

 garter and water snakes. In the matter of length blue racers show a 

 very decided difference from the other two. In the blue racer the males 

 are considerably the larger, while the females of the other snakes ex- 

 amined are the larger. The most sriking thing brought out in this 

 paper is the remarkable similarity of variation in blue racer males and 

 females as opposed to the much greater variability of females of other 

 genera, and while 58 specimens is admittedly too small a number upon 

 which to base definite conclusions, it is hoped that the apparent re- 

 sults herein recorded may lead to further investigations of these points. 



Olivet, Michigan. 



