406 KANSAS UNIVERSITY SCIENCE BULLETIN. 



are not present. Rostral very narrow, recurved above and ex- 

 cavated below. One long, narrow nasal ; naris in the center. 

 Loreal rectangular, narrow, entering the orbit. No antorbital ; 

 one postorbital. Five superior labials, fifth largest; eye above 

 third and fourth. Inferior labials six, fourth largest. Pregen- 

 ials larger than postgenials. Temporals 1-1 or 1-2. Gastro- 

 very short, 125-150. Urosteges 23-36, in two series. Anal 

 divided. 



The following are the scutellation and dimensions of four 

 specimens from Douglas county in the University museum : 



Color above uniform, chestnut brown to black. Abdomen 

 flesh-colored ; this color reaches the upper part of the second 

 row or the lower part of the third row of scales. Top of head 

 lighter than the body. Upper labials flesh-colored to light 

 brown. 



Ihave examined specimens from Neosho and Douglas counties. 

 One specimen, from Fort Scott, is in the National Museum. 

 Rare in Kansas, but probably occurs throughout the eastern 

 half of the state. 



Little is known of its habits. It lives in damp places, under 

 rocks, bark, decaying leaves, etc. Hay states that it is probably 

 nocturnal. Holbrook says that it lives on insects. 



Cope ( 10. 735) gives two species of Carplwpldops , amcenus and 

 vermis. He separates vermis from amoenus because it is darker, 

 the light color of the belly extends to the third row of scales, 

 and it has only one temporal in the second row. I have exam- 

 ined a large number of specimens, and they do vary as Cope 

 says, but frequently the lighter-colored snakes have the light 

 color of the belly extending to the third row of scales. One 

 temporal in the second row is an anomaly that occurs occasion- 

 ally with the dark-colored snakes. 



