18S7.] PKOCEEDINGy OF UNITED STATES JNA'llONAL MUSEUM 239 



OPHIDIA. Skrpkxts. 



Crotalus Incifer B. & G. California Eattlcsnale. 



Pretty geuerally distributed, but more numerous iu the foot-bilLs ol' 

 iSUasta Couuty tbau elsewhere. Yery few Snakes were met with in the 

 elevated coniferous forests, and none high u]) on the mountains. Abun- 

 dant as this Eattlesuake is in many parts of the foot-hills, it does not 

 appear to be oflensive. I have almost trodden ou it a score of times. 



Allen writes as follows regarding Cmtdisona confluenta in tbe region 

 of the Upper Missouri : " It was estimated that on the expedition of 

 1872 (North Pacific llailroad Expedition) not less than two thousand 

 were killed and yet not a man nor an animal was bitten by them. This 

 shows how little danger there really is from them, even when numerous. 

 Man is a far more fatal enemy to the Snake than the Snake is to man." 



Gontia mitis B. & G. Fnrple-taiUd Snake. 

 One specimen only. Shasta County. 



Opliibolus getiilus boyli (Linu.). California Kin<j Snalw.. 



Not uncommon on the Lower McCloud, in damp places near the river. 

 The Wintuns of that locality had a mortal fear of it, calling me *SVt IxiU-ijd- 

 patiin (snake devil), as I allowed one of the animals to twine about my 

 arm. 



Diadophis punctatus amabilis (Linu.)- Biwj- necked Snake. 



Specimens of this small Snake were obtained on McCloud lliver by 

 Mr. Livingston Stone and myself. It is not often seen. 



Diadophis punctatus pulchellus (Liuu.), Yarrow. California Uimj-necked Snake. 



Pound on the McCloud by Professor Cope, who says it ditfers iVom 

 amabilis in having the inferior two rows of scales unicolor with the 

 abdomen, which in life is brilliant orange. 



Pityophis catenifer * B. & G. Paeifie Fine Snake. 



A Pine Snake, 5 feet long, whi(;h I obtained near Mount Shasta, 

 and kept as a pet for several weeks, became very tame. Other speci- 

 mens were collected on the McCloud liiver. 



Fityophis sayi bellona f Sclilcg.). Western Ball Snake. 



Pound at Honey Lake in 1877 by Mr. II. W. Ilenshaw, and at Port 

 Crook by Capt. John Peilner. Not represented in my collection. 



Bascanium constrictor Liim. Black Snake. 



Eecorded in Smithsonian catalogues as having been collected at 

 Honey Lake by Mr. Henshaw, and at Pitt River by Lieutenant William- 

 son. 



* /•". catenifer is a uaiiic applied to a colored variety of /'. saji hoUona; it is not u 

 distinct species, 



