BRANSON : SNAKES OF KANSAS. 



395 



tirely terrestrial in its habits. Smith (21. 697] states that it is 

 aquatic. All the specimens in the Kansas University museum 

 were taken either in water or in the vicinity of water. Hay (16. 

 497) states that it is ovoviparous, but the evidence that he gives 

 is not conclusive. 



OPHIBOLUS Baird and Girard. 



Lampropellis Fitzinger, Syst. Rept., 1843, p. 25. 



Ox)hibolus Baird and Girard, Cat. N. Amer. Rep., Pt. I, Serp., 1853, p. 82. 



Scales in 19-25 rows, smooth with two apical pits. Loreal 

 present. One preocular. Two nasals. Anal entire. Maxil- 

 lary teeth slightly longer posteriorly. Head little distinct. 



KEY TO KANSAS SPECIES. 



I. — Scales in 25 rows; color brown; a median dorsal and two lateral rows of 

 spots O. caUigaster. 



II. — Scales in 21-23 rows: color black, with small white or yellow blotch in the 

 center of each scale O. getidus. 



III. — Scales in 21 rows; rings around the body, or body spotted with brown. 



O. doliatus. 



Ophibolus calligaster Say. 



Evans's King Snake. 

 Coluber calligaster Say, Harlan's Med. and Phys. Res., 1835, p. 122. 

 Coluber gut talus Schlegel, Ess. Phys. Serp., II, 1837, p. 168. 

 Ophibolus evnnsii Kennicott, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1859, p. 99. 

 Lanxjjropieltis calligaster Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1860, p. 225. 

 Ophibolus calligaster Cope, Check-list N. Amer. Batr. Rept., 1875, p. 37. 

 Cornelia calligaster Boulenger, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus., II, 1894, p. 198. 



Fig. 21. 

 Ophibolus calligaster Say. 



Dorsal scales smooth, thin, in twenty-four rows. Outer row 

 widest. Frontal as long as rest of muzzle. Two nasals. Loreal 

 quadrate. Oculars 1-2. Temporals 2-, 2-3. Upper labials 



