118 SEVENTH REPORT. 



Genus 7. Heterodon Latreille. — He-ter-o-don. 



Blowing or Puffing Adder. Hog-nosed Adder or Snake. Adders, 



Dorsal scales in 23-27 rows, more or less keeled; anal plate divided; loreals one or more; preoculars 

 2-4; postoculars 3-4; suboculars 1-3; temporals (2), 3, 4) in first row; cephalic plates not normal. The 

 trowel shaped rostral plate is prominent, with a well defined keel above. Neck and anterior part of 

 body capable of being greatly dilated by inhalation of air which it emits with a hissing sound; snout 

 short with an azygous plate behind the rostral, with or without accessory scales. 



*No accessory scales about the azygous plate. 



1. Heterodon platyrhinus Latreille. Blowing Viper, Hog-nosed Snake, Deaf , Blowing and Spreading 



Adder are some of the names by which this species is known. 



Dorsal scales in 25, (23) rows; 1, (2) azygous plates separating the internasals; frontal longer than 

 broad; prefontal extending down to loreals; superior labials 8, "(9); temporals 3, 4; 4,4, (5); one pair 

 of geneials; body stout, 800-820 m m. long; tail short tapering. General color ver.v variable, from 

 yellowish gray, brown or reddish brown to black in variety niger, usually with a series of 20-30 quadrate 

 brown or black spots separated by narrow interspaces; lateral series of spots, when present, alternate 

 with those of the dorsal. In young specimens a second series of spots is visible. Abdomen greenish 

 white, yellowish or reddish, often clouded and either with or without browinsh spots; two dark spots 

 on the nape; head usually banded. There are three color varieties in the United States but none 

 of these varieties are found in Michigan. The type is quite common in Michigan. It is harmless. 



Genus 8, Carphophiops Gervais — Karfo—fi-ops. 



Body smah; head flat and not distinct; dorsal scales in 13 rows, all smooth, one nasal; internasals 

 0, 1, 2; no preocular; one loreal-ocular ; one postocular; anal plate divided. These snakes are usually 

 found under stones, bark or logs. 



1. Carphophiops amoenus Say.— Red Snake, Ground or Worm Snake. 



Head small and depressed; frontal hexagonal; supra-oculars ver.v small; superior labials 5, fifth 

 largest; inferior labials 6, third largest; occipitals large; temporals 1,2; chestnut brown above, opales- 

 cent; abdomen salmon color. The light color does not extend to the third row of dorsal scales. Tail 

 short, tapering to a point. Northern Austroriparian region westward. Possibly within the state. 



Genus 9, Liopeltis Cope. — Li-o-pel-tis. 



Body rather small; head distinct; tail long; cephalic plates normal; preoculars 1-2: postoculars 2, 

 (3); temporals 1, 2, elongoted loreal (0), 1; dorsal scales in 15 rows, all smooth; anal plate divided. 



/. LiopoUis vernalis DeKay. Green or Grass Snake. 



Color above yellowish green to light pea green, lighter on the flanks abdomen, yellowish green to 

 whitish; cleft of mouth deep and slightly curved; superior labials 7; inferior labials 7-8, fifth largest; 

 loreal, when present, rather small; length about 500 m m. Blue to bluish in spirits; perfectly harm- 

 less. Throughout the United States except the Pacific and Sonoran regions. Common in Michigan 



Genus 10, Ophibolus Baird & Girard — 0-fib-o-lus. 



Milk Snake, Corn Snake, King Snake. 



Head slightly distinct; cephalic plates normal; temporals (1), 2, -2, (3); loreal one; preocolar one; 

 po.stoculars 2-3; superior labials 7-8; two pair of geneials; dorsal scales in 21-25 rows, smooth with two 

 apical pits; anal plate usuall.y entire. 



*Dorsal scales in 21, (19, 23) rows. 



tDorsal spots black, brown or red with black borders, or with ring around the body. 



Ophibolus doliatus Linnaeus. — Milk Sjiake, Corn Snake. 



Size medium to small' dorsal scales in 21, (19, 23) rows, rather wide; loreal small, longer than high; 

 oculars 1-2; temporals 2, (l)-2, (3); superior labials 7, fifth largest; head from red to black, variously 

 marked with brown or yellow or both. This species is found, in some of its forms, from the Atlantic 

 coast to the central plains and south to Mexico. 



JWith an oblique streak or band behind the orbit. 



Var. 1. Ophibolus doliatus triangulus Dandin — Milk Snake, House Snake, Chicken Snake, Adder. 



The largest of the varieties; dorsal scales in 21, (19, 23) rows; superior labials 7, fifth largest; ventrals 

 185-215; muzzle rather broad and head rather depressed; temporals usually 2, 2; length 1000.1100 

 m m. Ground color above, yellowish gray with a series of 40-50 grayish brown to chocolate brown 

 spots on the body. The dorsal spots are black bordered in adult specimens and red or reddish in young 

 ones. The spots are about 13 scales wide and rarely extend below the third row of scales; 10-13'black 

 half rings on the tail. There is a second smaller alternating series on the sides, which does not reach 

 the ventrals, alternating with these spots is another series of smaller irregular black spots which in- 

 volve the ends of the ventrals; abdomen whitish, blotched with black. The first dorsal blotch is 

 elongated and irregular covering the posterior half of the frontal and enclosing a triangular or heart 

 shaped figure and the V. A dark prefrontal band is present, also a dark band from the orbit to the 



