VARIATIONS OF GARTER-SNAKES. 



139 



hiscutata): "This species is not uncoininoii in the swamp vegetation 

 on the lK)rders of the Lake"" (lig. 58). A series of specimens sent to 

 me from Flathead Lake, Montana, were taken on the shore of the 

 lakes and in neighboring swamps. I can find nothing on the food hab- 

 its of this garter-snake, l^ut in view of these habitat notes it is prob- 

 able that frogs and iisli form an important part of tlie food of the 



Fig. 58. — llAIilTAT OF TlIAMNOPHIS ORDINOIDES ELEGANS. KlaMATU MARSHES, SOUTHERN OREGON. 



in(hvidiials foiiml in these habitats. While, how^ever, elegans thus 

 apparently prefers an aquatic habitat, it is probably not strictly 

 confined to the vicinity of water except in the more arid regions. 

 This conclusion is borne out by the fact that a specimen in the U. S. 

 National Museum from Boulder County, Colorado, is labeled ''bare 



