84 



Chirk — The SI tort- Mouthed Snake. 



The following table will bring out clearly the characters of the 

 species and the individual peculiarities of the Olivet specimens: 



It will be noticed at once that only one of the five females is 

 perfectly normal, all of the others having a reduced number of 

 postocular plates. It is also ajjparent that the type specimen is 

 not an average representative of the species, since the number of 

 gastrosteges is exceptionally small, while the number of uro- 

 steges is unusually large. In Nos. 1 and 2 there were incom- 

 plete gastrosteges, which have been counted as half plates. In 

 No. 3, nearly one-half of the tail was missing, so that the uro- 

 steges could not be determined. 



The new material makes it possible to state more definitely 

 the specific characters, and to correct one or two of Cope's mis- 

 statements, which were due to his having only one specimen, 

 and that an alcoholic. In general appearance, the short-mouthed 

 snake is somewhat like the common garter snake (Eutania sir- 

 talis) but the head is so much narrower and the tail tapers so 

 much more abruptly that even a very casual glance will suffice 

 to note the difference. In coloration, moreover, there is a very 



