160 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



stripe on third and fourth rov/s of scales. Dorsal and lateral stripes 

 uniform in color. Color above and below lateral stripes the same. 



Habitat. — Fairey's Ribbon Snake is found throughout 

 the Mississippi Valley from northern Indiana and Wis- 

 consin to the mouth of the Mississippi. Missouri locali- 

 ties : — St. Louis, Butler, Pemiscot, Howell, Stone, Phelps, 

 Jackson, Franklin, St. Charles, and Montgomery Coun- 

 ties. Illinois localities : — Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, and 

 Randolph Counties. 



Habits. — ^This species is found along the border of 

 creeks, ponds and sloughs. It is a very active snake and 

 feeds on tadpoles, small frogs and salamanders. The 

 Ribbon Snake swims and dives with the great ease and 

 agility of the Water Snakes, and takes refuge when pur- 

 sued among the stones and other accumulations along the 

 water edge, or will hide beneath some aquatic plants be- 

 neath the surface of the water. 



Ditmars in his Reptile Book gives such a fine account 

 of how this snake procures its food that I shall give it in 

 full: — "The high, rasping croak of a wood frog denotes 

 something to be the matter. Peeping through the under- 

 growth a wood frog was seen struggling in the jaws of a 

 Ribbon Snake. So vigorous was the batrachian that it 

 tore itself from the reptile's grasp and started away in 

 a series of frantic hops, with the snake in pursuit. So 

 lightning-like were the undulations and progress of the 

 pursuer that it readily kept up with the frog, although 

 the former had a start of several feet, gained immediately 

 after its escape from the snake's jaws. After a dozen 

 frenzied leaps, the frog paused to recover breath, and the 

 snake, momentarily losing sight of it, stopped as well, but 

 Avas all attention with head and neck upraised, eyes star- 

 ing in the direction of the prey, and flashing tongue. 

 Imagining the danger past the frog settled down to rest. 

 But woe to the unfortunate creature, a single move 

 brought instantaneous fate. With the characteristic move-; 

 ment of frogs and toads it folded its limbs tighter to its 



