84 COLUBEREXIMIUS. 



General Remarks. The Coluber eximius, though so common in the northern 

 states, was only a short time since recognised and described as a distinct species 

 by Dr. Dekay, an excellent herpetologist, and one who has done much in 

 ophidiology. Say seemed to consider the serpent he observed in Missouri as 

 new; but I am not aware that he described it as such: Dr. Harlan, however, 

 gave a description of it from specimens in the Philadelphia Museum, and under 

 the name calligaster, from the beautiful arrangement of colours on the belly. I 

 have examined these specimens, and can pronounce them identical with the 

 Coluber eximius, having a few plates more. 



The general resemblance between the Coluber eximius and the Coluber getulus 

 is so great as to lead several excellent naturalists to consider them identical; yet 

 there are many differences, which, though small if taken alone, when combined 

 are sufficient to establish these animals as separate and distinct species. To 

 give a better notion of their differences, I have had the two animals drawn nearly 

 in the same position. 



1. The head of the Coluber eximius is shorter and more rounded in front. 



2. The body is shorter in proportion, and the tail much more so, and is 

 thicker. See number of plates and scales above. 



3. The disposition as well as the tmt of the colour is entirely different in life; 

 but when the two animals have been kept in alcohol, then the colours become 

 more alike. 



4. They differ in habits; the Coluber guttatus selects old fields and dry places, 

 while the Coluber eximius prefers rocky or shady spots for his abode. 



5. They differ also much in their geographical distribution; the one being 

 peculiar to the south, the other as much so to the north. 



