Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 159 



Habits. — This species is quite numerous in the neigh- 

 borhood of St. Louis on both sides of the river. It is an 

 agile and timid species, frequenting the borders of streams 

 and lakes, hiding under decaying logs and boards near 

 the edge of the water. 



Dates of capture. — April 15, 22; May 24; November 13. 

 Genus thamnophis. 



Cephalic plates normal, loral present, nasal divided, with the nostril 

 between. Anteorbital one, postorbitals three. Head separated from 

 the body by an evident neck. Body moderately slender. Dorsal scales 

 keeled, arranged in 19 to 21 rows. Anal entire. 



This genus is closely allied to the genus Natrix, but differing in the 

 undivided anal plate. It is confined to North America. The general 

 color consists of three light stripes on a darker ground, with alternat- 

 ing or tessellated spots. 



Key to the Missouri Thamnophis. 



Lateral stripe on the third and fourth rows of dorsal scales. 



Dorsal scales in 19 rows. proxima faireyi. 



Dorsal scales in 21 rows. radix. 



Lateral stripe on the second and third rows of dorsal scales. 



Dorsal scales in 19 rows. sirtalis. 



51. Thamnophis proxima faireyi Baird and Girard. 

 Fairey's Ribbon Snake. 



Thamnophis saurita faireyi, Eutaenia proxima faireyi, Eutainia saurita 

 faireyi, Eutaenia faireyi, Eutaenia proxima, Eutaenia saurita, 

 Eutainia faireyi, Tropidonotus saurita var. faireyi. 



Description. — Rostral broader than deep, visible from above, inter- 

 nasals as long as broad, a little shorter than the prefrontals. Frontal 

 one and a half to one and two-thirds times as long as broad, as long 

 as its distance from the end of the snout. Loral as long as deep; one 

 pre- and three post-orbitals. Temporals 1-2 or 1-3. Eight upper 

 labials; fourth and fifth entering the eye, sixth and seventh the largest. 

 Lower labials ten; fifth and sixth the largest. Five lower labials in 

 contact with the anterior chin shields, which are shorter than the 

 posterior. Body slender. Head distinctly marked off by the more 

 slender neck. Tail long, tapering less than one-third of the total 

 length. Dorsal scale rows 19, all strongly keeled. Ventrals 160-175. 

 Anal entire. Subcaudals 105-115. 



Color. — Color above blackish-brown; beneath greenish-white. Lateral 



