1 1 Zoology of Colorado 



young, but in the adults the ground color darkens, usually hiding 

 or obscuring the pattern. The Striped Racer (C. taeniatus of 

 Hallowell), which occurs sparingly in Western Colorado, is con- 

 spicuously marked, even when adult, with narrow dark longi- 

 tudinal stripes. It has the scales normally in 15 rows, instead of 

 1 7 as in the other species. The Coachwhip Snake (C. flagellum 

 of Shaw), found from Boulder to Yuma, and south to Las Animas 

 and Baca Counties, is a slender species, sometimes as much as 

 eight feet long. It has eight upper labial scales, whereas there 

 are only seven in the Black Snake (C. constrictor of Linnaeus), 

 which also inhabits the eastern plains and foothills. Specimens 

 with the under side yellow belong to the race flaviventris of Say, 

 discovered on Long's Expedition. This is the prevalent western 

 form. 



As compared with New Mexico, Colorado is about as rich 

 in Amphibians (Colorado 12, N. M., 14) and Testudinata (Colo., 

 6, N. M., 5), but very much poorer in lizards (Colo., 17, N. M., 

 32) and snakes (Colo., 22, N. M., 37). It is principally along our 

 southern border that additions may probably be made, and those 

 who will explore the southeastern and southwestern portions of 

 the State for reptiles may expect to make important additions to 

 our knowledge. May we suggest that some of the summer visitors, 

 who hasten from place to place in automobiles, might find here 

 an exciting form of sport, with the added satisfaction of making 

 a positive contribution to science? The southern, rather than 

 eastern, affinities of our lizard fauna are well shown by Ellis and 

 Henderson, who cite five of our seventeen species as found in 

 Kansas, but 15 as found in New Mexico. The latter figure can 

 now be raised to 16, Eumeces multivirgatus having been found at 

 Fort Wingate and at the forks of the Rio Ruidoso. 



