BRANSON : SNAKES OF KANSAS. 393 



Posterior nasal in contact with preocular. Oculars 2-2. Tem- 

 porals 1-1. The first temporal extends for half the length of 

 the sixth labial. Upper labials six; first, fifth and sixth 

 longer than high. Eye above third and fourth labials. Lower 

 labials seven, fourth and fifth largest. Pregenials longer than 

 postgenials. First gastrostege not divided. Gastrosteges 120- 

 140. Urosteges 40-60. 



Length about twenty inches ; tail about three inches. Body 

 slender. 



Color above, olive or chestnut brown, uniform or with a 

 lighter dorsal stripe three inches in width. A stripe of the 

 same color on the outer row of scales. On each side of the 

 dorsal stripe two rows of minute brown spots are sometimes 

 present. These spots are on the bases of the scales of the third 

 row from the dorsal. Belly in alcoholic specimen whitish yel- 

 low to greenish. The ends of the gastrosteges are often very 

 finely spotted with brown. Just behind the occipitals is a 

 salmon-colored blotch. Immediately behind the angle of the 

 mouth is another blotch of the same color. The top of the 

 head is brownish or grayish. The under part of the head is 

 greenish or yellowish. 



This snake is rare in Kansas. I have examined specimens 

 from Bourbon, Riley and Douglas counties. Smith (21. 698) 

 states that they are somewhat nocturnal and live chiefly under 

 rocks and stones. They live upon grasshoppers, crickets, etc. 

 Hay (16. 498) states that he found a slug in the stomach of 

 one specimen. 



Storeria dekayi Holbrook. 



De Kay's Snake. 

 Tropidonotus dekayi Holbrook, N. Amer. Herp., Ill, 1842, p. 53. 

 Storeria dekayi Baird and Girard, Cat. N. Amer. Rept., Pt. I, Serp., 1853, 



p. 135. 

 Ischnognathus dekayi Dumeril and Bibron, Erp. Gen., VII, 185i, p. 507. 



Dorsal rows of scales seventeen, all keeled ; frontal hexagonal, 

 longer and narrower than in S. occvpitomaculata. Superciliaries 

 narrow, slightly broader posteriorly. Prefrontals with anterior 

 and inner margins straight, outer margin curved. Rostral nar- 

 rower than in the preceding species. Two large nasals ; nostril 

 in anterior ; posterior in contact with preocular. Oculars 1-2. 

 Temporals 1-1 ; first temporal large, pointed posteriorly. Up- 



