116 SEVENTH REPORT. 



dark bands, one between the orbits, one from the orbits downward across the superior labials and one 

 from the orbits to the angle of the mouth. 



fRostral high, narrow above, penetrates the internasals about two thirds of their length. 



Var. 1. Pityophys catenifer sayi Schlegel. Prairie Bull Snake. 



Head subelliptical, distinct; frontal broad, muzzle pointed; preoculars one or two; postoculars three 

 or more, interprefrontals rather narrow; loreal trapezoidal; superior labials 8-9; second and third pos- 

 terior ones largest; inferior labials 12-13; sixth and seventh largest; labials margined with dark brown 

 or black; head bands usually distinct; dorsal scales in 27-3.3 rows, usually five to nine rows smooth. 

 Ground color yellowish or reddish brown with three series of dorsal black blotches, 40-70 in number, 

 from the headto opposite the anus. Tlie medium series of blotches largest; lateral series alternating 

 with the medium series; abdomen dull yellow with a small dark spot on the end of each alternate scu- 

 tella; throat yellowish. From Illinois to the Rocky Mountains and from tlie northern to the soutli- 

 ern boundaries of the United States. Rare in the southwestern pai't of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. 



Genus 4- Cyclophis Gunther, — Si-klo-fis. 



Body long and slender; dorsal scales in 17 rows, keeled, head distinct and moderately large; cephalic 

 plates normal; prefrontals and internasals each a pair; nasals one, nostril In the middle of the nasal; 

 oculars 1-2; anal plate divided. 



1 . Cyclophis aestious Linnaeus — Summer Green Snake. Hammock Snake. 



General color above greenish to reddish green, bluish in spirits; abdomen yellowish to greenish white; 

 loreal long, rarely absent; preoculars 1, (2); postoculars 2, (3); temporals 1, 2; rostral broader than 

 high; superior labials 7, sixth largest; inferior labials 8, fifth largest; labials, chin and throat white or 

 yellow. From New Jersey south to Florida, west to the Mississippi River and southwest to New Mex- 

 ico. Very rare in the southern part of Michigan. 



Genus 5. Natrix Laurenti — Na-triks. — Water Snakes. Oueen Snakes. 



Body often rather stout and large; head distinct; dorsal scales in 19- 33 rows, keeled and pitted; 

 cephalic plates normal; loreal present; preoculars 1-2; pastoculars 3, (2); labials and geneials large; 

 anal plate divided; viviparous. 



KEY TO SPECIES. 



I. Temporal plates 1, 1, (2); superior labials 6, (5). 



Oculars 1, 2; dorsal scales in 19, (21) rows; size small. — N. kirtlandii, 116. 



II. Temporal plates 1, 2, (3). 



*Body usually with stripes; scales in 19, 21 rows. 



tPreoculars 2, (1). 



Brown with three black stripes on the back. — N. leberis, 116. 



Light brown or clay color, usually with four stripes on the back. — N. grahamii. 116. 



**Body usually with spots or cross bands. 



t Dorsal scales "in 23-25 rows. 



Superior labials 8, (9); preoculars one. — N. fasciata, 116. 



JDorsal scales in 27-29 rows, 



Dorsal scales in 27 rows; without true circumorbital scales. N. rhombifera, 117. 



1. Natrix kirtlandii Kennicott. — Little Red Snake. 



Body slender, about 450 m m. long; dorsal scales in 19, (21) rows, all keeled; superior labials 6, (5); 

 inferior labials 7; oculars 1-2; nasal one with a mark giving it the appearance of two; one loreal; anal 

 plate divided; general color above, pale purplish brown; with a dorsal series of large dark spots and 

 an alternating series of spots on each side; abdomen pale brick red, fading in spirits, with a black spot 

 near the end of each ventral plate. It is terrestrial in its habits, usually found in the woods under 

 logs. Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. 



3. Natrix leberis Linnaeus. Willow Snake. Yellow-bellied or Leather Snake. 



Head small, tapering anteriorly; dorsal scales in 19 rows; nostral low, nearly twice as wide as high; 

 preoculars two; postoculars 2, (3); superior labials 7, fifth and sixth largest; inferior labials 9-10; loreal 

 large; temporals 1, 2, (3), first large; internasals usually wider than long; color dark chestnut or chocolate 

 brown above, with three narrow black stripes; a yellowish stripe on the two inferior rows of scales; 

 abdomen yellowish with dark bands which sometimes fuse making the abdomen quite dark. Length 

 575-590 m m. United States east of the Mississippi. Not uncommon in Michigan. 



S. Natrix grahamii Baird and Girard. Graham's Snake. Prairie Water Snake. 



Head elongated, flattened above; dorsal scales in 19, (21) rows; oculars 2-2, (3); temporals 1, 2; 

 superior labials 7, fifth and sixth largest; inferior labials 10, fifth and sixth largest; mternasals longer 

 than wide; rostral nearly as high as wide; loreal slightly elevated anteriorly. In old individuals the 

 colors are darker and the appearance is more like that of a brown snake with three narrow black stripes 

 on a side. In younger specimens there is a light brown or clay colored dorsal stripe, about one and a 

 half scales wide, bordered bv a narrow black line Next to this is an olive brown stripe about three 

 scales wide bordered by another black line on the fourth row of scales; next a straw colored band, on 

 the first, second and at least part of the third row of scales, which passes along the side of the head 

 to the end of the nose, and this in turn is bordered below by a narrow black line along the juncture 

 between the first row of scales and the ventrals; abdomen light straw colored, frequently with one or 

 two narrow dark medium lines. Length 875-885 m m. The Mississippi valley from Michigan to 

 Texas. 



4. Natrix fasciata Linnaeus. Banded Water S7iake. 



Size moderate to large and stout; dorsal scales in 23-25, (27) rows, all keeled scales of the first row 

 larger than the others; superior labials 8, (9); eye above the fourth and fifth superior labial; oculars 



