1903.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. ''289 



the three hght stripes well defined, and had 21 rows of scales; their 

 second specimen had 19 rows and the dorsal spots were visible against 

 the dark ground. 



Seven living garter snakes received at the Zoological Gardens of 

 Philadelphia in May, 1902, from a collector at Oakland, Cal., throw 

 much light upon the variations of this form. 



Specimens a. b, c, d, measuring from 270 to 290 mm. in length, coi 

 respond in color to typical elegans, the three pale yellow stripes being 

 on a brownish-black ground so dark that the spots arc barel}^ visible. 

 Tvv^o have 21 dorsal rows and 8 upper labials; one has them 21 and 7; 

 one has 19 and S. 



The three others are of mature size and much significance. 



Specimen e, 733 mm. long (tail 175), has 19 rows of scales, the outer 

 weakly keeled, and 8 labials. Ventrals 163; subcaudals 87. The 

 whole dorsal color between the spots, more or less of the outer row of 

 scales, and the entire center of the belly are bright red. The spots are 

 distinct and number about 94 in each row, to the vent. The dorsal 

 stripe is orange-yellow and the laterals paler, more buff, but much 

 marked with red. The small parietal spots and those on the ends of 

 the ventrals, common in many species, are present and the upper por- 

 tion of the labial sutures are shghtly margined with dark shading. The 

 portion of the ventral surface not red is pale green. This specimen is 

 the most brilliant and beautiful Eutcenia I have ever seen. 



Specimen /, 800 mm. long (tail 184), has 19 rows of scales, the outer 

 faintly keeled, or smooth in places; 8 upper labials which are yellowish- 

 olive slightly bordered with black. Ventrals 168 ; subcaudals 72. The 

 dorsal stripe is bright yellow, and the laterals red. Body color dark 

 brownish-black, the upper row of spots being entirely obscured, the 

 lower row, 84 in number, showing as downward prolongations of the 

 black from above, and separated by not very distinct patches of 

 red just above the lateral stripe. This portion of the color pattern 

 closely resembles some examples of E. s. parietalis. The belly is 

 yellowish-olive in the center, slightly marked with red, the pattern of 

 this part corresponding exactly to that colored red in e. The ends of 

 the ventrals and the outer row of scales are olive-brown. No parietal 

 spots and no distinct spots on the ends of the ventrals, but their bases 

 are slightly dusky. This snake is E. infernalis infernalis Cope. 



Specimen g, 880 mm. long (tail 210), has 21 rows, the outer partly 

 keeled and partly smooth, and 8 upper labials. Ventrals 167; sub- 

 caudals 72. In pattern it is like e, but the body color is mostly brown 

 instead of red, this last showing only on a single scale here and there, 

 19 



