114 SEVENTH REPORT. 



Fam. 5, Crotalidae — Kro-tal-i-de. 



Tail ending in a point witout a rattle. Agkistrodon, 32. 



Tail provided witli a rattle or button, o. 



o. Top of head nio.stly covered with scales, plates few. Crotalus, 33. 



o. Top of head covered with cephalic plates. Sistrurus, 34. 



COLUBRIDAE. 



The Harmless Snakes. 

 Genus 1, Storaria-Baird and Girard — Sto-re-ri-a. — Little Brown Snake. 



'' Body small; dorsal scales in 1.5-17 rows, keeled; without pits; anal plate usually divided: liead short 

 and distinct; cephalic plates normal; loreal absent or rarely present; internasals two; nasals two; pre- 

 oculars one or two; post oculars two; tail short; ovoviviporous; harmless. 

 * Dorsal scales in 17 rows. 



1. Storeria dekayi-Holbrook. — Little Brown Snake. — Dorsal .scales in 17 rows; reddish brown to 

 grayish brown above, with a lighter dorsal .stripe margined with dotted lines; grayish white to copper 

 color on the abdomen. A dark bar extends from the occipitals to the angle of the mouth; head plates 

 often mottled with brown: a dark spot below the orbit; preocular one; postoculars two; superior la- 

 bials 7, fifth largest; temporals 1, 2, first extending to the middle of the last superior labial; exterior 

 row of scales largest, smooth or weakly keeled. Sometimes there are traces of one or more series of 

 stripes on the sides. Length 330-350 m. m. Common in Michigan. Throughout the United States 

 east of the Rocky Mountains. 



** Dorsal scales in 15 rows. 



2. Storeria occipitomaculata-Storer. Red-bellied Brown Snake. — Dorsal scales in 15 rows all 

 keeled except the inferior row which may be smooth; superior labials 5-6; inferior labials 6-7; oculars 

 2-2; nostril in anterior nasal; pregeneials longer than the postgeneials; chestnut brown to gray, bluish 

 or olivaceious above, with a lighter dorsal stripe margined with dark dotted lines; abdomen red or 

 salmon color to whiti.sh. The salmon color fades in spirits to grayish while. The ventral color some- 

 times extends upon the flanks; lower jaw minutely dotted with brown; salmon colored sjiots on the 

 superior labials and occipital region. Length about 340 m m. Habitat same as Storeria dekavi. 

 Rare in Michigan. 



Genus 2. Eutaenia-Baird and Girard. — U-te-ni-a. — Garter Snakes. Striped Snakes. 



Dorsal rows of scales not exceding 23, more or less keeled ; cephalic plates normal; two nasals; one lor- 

 eal; preoculars 1-2; postoculars two; anal plate entire; terrestrial or sometimes semi-aquatic; ovovivi- 

 parous. The snakes of this genus seem open to every possibility of variation. They are the most 

 common snakes in the United States and are perfectly harmless. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



I, Lateral .stripe at least on the third and foiu-th row of scales. 



* Dorsal scales in 19 rows. 



tTemporal scales 1, 1, (2); superior labials 6-7. 



Laterals tripe on the second, third and fourth rows of scales, at least anteriorly. E. Butleri, 114. 



JTemporal scales 1, 2, (3). 



Superior labials 7 , (8). 



Body slender ; first row of scales longer than deep. E. saurita, 114. 



**Dbrsal scales in 21, (19) rows; temporals 1-2, 3. 



Superior labials 7, (8). E. radix, 115. 



II. Lateral stripe when present on the second and third row of scales. 

 *Dorsal scales in 19, (17, 21) rows; superior labials 7, (8); temporals 1, 2, (3). 

 Preoculars 1, (2); postgeneials longer than the pregeneials. E. sirtalis, 115. 



1. Eutaenia butleri Cope. Butler's Garter Snake. Stiort mouthed Snake . 



Dorsal scales in 19 rows, all keeled, inferior row widest; superior labials 6-7, (8). yellowish, maigined 

 with black; inferior labials 8; oculars 1-3; Jemporals 1, 1, rarely 1, 2, first usually larger than the 

 second and extends to the superior labials; loreal trapezoidal. Head conical, olive brown above, marked 

 with black, with or without two yellowish, dark bordered, occipital spots; muzzle narrow and projecting 

 a little; cleft of mouth short; chin white; throat yellowish: eye over the third and fourth superior 

 labials. Body small to fairly stout, tapering towards both ends. Color above light to dark olive 

 brown; marked with three yellowish longitudinal stripes; dorsal stripe corners, one and two half 

 rows of scales, each lateral stripe covers more or less of the second third and foin-th rows of 

 scales, at least anteriorly, irregular in width i)osteriorly. Two rows of dark ill-defined spots above 

 and one below the lateral stripe, which sometimes widens, on the side of the neck, into a yellowish 

 blotch containing a black spot. Abdomen light olivaceous, more or less speckled with black. 

 Tail short; total length 350-530 mm. This is a rare species found in eastern Illinois, Indiana, 

 southern Michigan and western Ohio. 



S. Eutaenia saurita Linneaus. Swift Garter Snake. Ribbon Garter Snake. 



Body slender, elongated, tapering to a long pointed tail; superior labials 7, (8) ; inferior labials 9-10; 

 geneials extending to the seventh inferior labial; frontal elongated, hexagonal' eyes large; preoculars 

 usually whitish; color dark to chocolate brown above, with three stripes usually extending from the 

 head to the tip of the tail; dorsal stripe sulphur yellow, usually margined with a narrow black band; 

 lateral stripes occasionally speckled or margined' with black; the labials, chin and gular region yel- 

 lowish white: abdomen greenish white, without spots. The young are spotted. End of ventrals 

 chestnut brown, which disappears in spirits; length 750-900 m m. Ea.st of the Mississippi River. 



