MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 119 



angle of the mouth , which is bordered above with a light band. This is the well known Milk snake of the 

 Middle States. It is harmless. From the New England States west to Wisconsin and south to North 

 Carolina and Texas. Quite common in Michigan. 



**Dorsal .scales in 21-23, (25) rows. 



fLarge; black with more or less yellow or white. 



2. Ophibolus getulus Linnaeus. King Snake. 



Body large and stout; muzzle slightly compressed; head not very distinct; dorsal scales in 21-23, 

 (25) rows; oculars 1-2, (3); superior labials 7; inferior labials 9-10, fifth largest temporals 2, 2, (3, 4); 

 color above, black or brownish black with white or yellow markings. 



JTop of head yellow spotted; scales with yellow centers. 



Var.l. Ophibolus getulus sayi Holprook. — Say's King Snake. 



Dorsal scales in 21-23, (25) rows; loreal trapezoidal, about as high as long; postgeneials small; dorsal 

 and lateral scales usually lustrous black with white or yellow centers. The color pattern is very var- 

 iable; often the spots of the body collect into narrow transverse bands leaving large black spaces with 

 a trace of j'ellow spots; sometimes about seven of the lower rows of scales are spotted, while on the 

 dorsal region the spots collect into narrow bands uniting the spots of the sides; head black with yellow 

 spots; abdomen yellow or white with black blotches which are more numerous posteriorly. From 

 Indiana to Louisiana and western Texas. Possibly in Michigan. 



***Dorsal scales in 25 rows. 



S. Ophibolus calligaster Say.— Say's Chain or King Snake. Milk Snake. 



Head elongated, rather flat; oculars 1-2; temporals 2, 3; loreal longer than high; suDerior labials 7; 

 inferior labials 9; fifth largest; dorsal scales in 25 rows; anal plate entire or divided; length 1180-1200 

 m m. Light olivaceous brown to grayish brown with a series of subquadrangular, dark chestnut brown, 

 black bordered blotches, and two similar alternating lateral series. The dorsal spots are about three 

 scales long and 8-10 wide; the latteral about two long and 3-4 wide; the inferior series, which are small- 

 er and alternate with the lateral, cover the first row of scales and the ends of the adjacent ventrals; 

 abdomen light yellow to white with or without square black or bluish blotches along the medium line; 

 head banded; labials yellowish; nape banded. From central Ohio to Minnesota sou:L to Texas. Pos- 

 sibly in Michigan. 



Genus 11, Diadophis Baird & Girard — Di-ad—o-fis. — Ring Necked Snakes. 



Dorsal scales in 15-17 rows, smooth; body slender, elongated; head rather short and distinct; cephalic 

 plates normal; loreal one; oculars 2 (1)- 2; rostral normal; usually with a cervical ring; anal plate di- 

 vided; tail short; abdomen yellow or orange to whitish, or pinkish, with or without black ventral dots. 



*Dorsal scales in 15 rows; superior labials 8 (7). 



1 . D iadophis punctatus Linnaeus . 



Dorsal scales in 15 rows; superior labials 8 (7); inferior labials 8-9; oculars 2 (l)-2; temporals 1, 1; 

 loreal quadritaleral; head slightly depressed; snout rounded and slightlv over-laping the lower jaw; 

 ventrals 135-160; tail tapering; length 350-360 m m. Aduhs bluish black or brown above, which 

 color extends like a bar upon the ends of the ventrals; young specimens are reddish brown or even 

 salmon color above; abdomen yellowish orange to whitish or pink, with or without a series of black 

 transverse spots on the middle of each ventral; color on nape one half to one scale wide, yellowish; 

 inferior labials and lower half of superior labials yellow, usually without small black dots. This species 

 is found about logs, stone or bark; harmless; lives on insects and batrachins. The United States east 

 of the Mississippi. 



Genus 12, Bascanium Baird & Girard, — Bas-kan-i-um. — Racer Snakes. Whip Snakes. 



Body elongate; head distinct; cephalic plates normal; dorsal scales in 15-19 rows, smooth; preoculars 

 two, lower one small; two nasals; one loreal; labials and occipitals usually large; mouth deeply cleft; 

 anal plate divided; color, black, blue black, olive green or yellowish, sometimes quite dark. Color- 

 ation of the young usually quite different from the adult, being marked with spots, transverse bands 

 or longitudinal stripes; harmless. 



*Adult not striped; dorsal scales in 17 (19) rows; young spotted. 

 tSuperior labials 7, (8); black, bluish or slate color to green. 



1. Bascamium constrictor Linnaeus. 



Body rather slender; tail long; cephalic plates normal; two nasals; one loreal, oblique trapezoidal; 

 oculars 2-2; temporals 2, 2, (3); superior labials 7, (8); inferior labials 8;-9; length 1100-1500 m m. 

 JBlack or bluish above; abdomen slate color, whitish in young specimens. 



Var. 1. Bascanium constrictor Linnaeus.- — Blue Racer, Black Snake. 



Lustrous black in the eastern part of its range to bluish or olive black in the western part, without 

 spots or stripes in the adult; gular region white to whitish with dark spots. Top of head and back 

 in young specimens yellowish to greenish gray, banded and spotted with darker colors: abdomen white 

 or whitish; spots disappear when the specimen is 45-50 m m. long. This species will climb trees in 

 search of eggs and young birds. It is harmless to man and useful in destroying insects and small 

 animals. Throughout the United States east of the 100th meridian. 



