CROCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 833 



viciously disposed snake that he had ever seen. An examination of the stomach 

 showed that it had just swallowed a half-growu rabbit. Its disposition appears to 

 be in strong contrast to that of C. ohsoletus, which, so far as I have been able to learn, 

 is very gentle. 



These snakes, being wholly harmless and subsisting on vermin of various kinds, 

 ought to receive the protection of the fanner. 



COLUBER GUTTATUS Linnaeus. 



Coluber nuilatus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., I, 1766, p. 385. — Gmelin, Linn. Syst. Nat., 

 13th ed., I, Pt. 3, 1788, p. 1110.— Dauburton, Quadr. Ovip. Serp., p. 602.-^ 

 Lacepede, Quadr. Ovip. Serp., II, p. 329. — Bonnaterre, Ophiologie, p. 19. — 

 Harlan, .Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., V, 1827, p. 363. — Schlkgel, Essai Phys. 

 Serp., 1837, p. 168.— Holbrook, N. Am. Herp., II, 1838, p. 109, pi. xxiv; 2d 

 ed., Ill, 1842, p. 65, pi. xiv. — Gunther, Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus., 1858, p. 

 89. — Cope, Check-list N. Amer. Batr. Kept., 1875, p. 39. — Merrem, Tentam., 

 p. 99.— BouLENGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus., II, 1894, p. 39. 



Scotoplns (jiiiiatus Baird and Girard, Cat. N. Amer. Kept., Pt. 1, Serp., 1853, p. 78. 



Elaphis f/uttatus Dumeril and Bibron, Erp. Gen., VII, 18.54, p. 273. 



Coluber compresstifi Merrem, Beitr.-ige Naturges. Amphib.,II, i>l. 11. 



Coluber carolinianus Shaw, Zool., Ill, j). 460, pi. 119. 



Coluber maculatus Latreille, Hist. Nat. Rept., IV, p. 73. — Harlan, .Journ. Acad. 

 Nat. Sci. Phila., 1827, p. 360. 



Coluber paniherinus Merrem, Tentam., p. 102. 



Coluber floridanus Harlan, .Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1827, p. 360. 



Two plates in the first row of temporals; parietal plate louger than 

 mnzzle measured from front of frontal plate. Scales in twenty-seven or 

 twenty-nine rows, only five rows of scales, and these weakly. Eight 

 superior labials, fourth and fifth entering orbit. Orbitals 1-2. Tail 

 short, the scutelhie not exceeding seventy-one in number; gastrosteges 

 215 to 235. 



Light reddish-brown, with angular brick-red spots above. Head 

 with brick-red bands arranged en chevron, the angle anterior, with 

 blackish borders. Below white, tessellated with black. 



This handsome species is represented by two well-marked subspecies, 

 which differ as follows : 



Scales in 27 rows; head bands present; dorsal spots narrower, extending over ten to 

 fifteen rows, and with one or two rows of lateral spots on each side. . C. g. guitatu^i. 



Scales in 29 rows; head bands, excepting the postocular, wanting or rudimental; 

 dorsal spots wider, covering 19-21 rows of scales: no lateral spots C. g. sellatus. 



This species ranges the Austroriparian region east of the Mississippi 

 Eiver, and the Carolinian district of the Eastern, not, however, entering 

 New Jersey. The subspecies C. (/. sellatus is restricted to Florida. It 

 is one of our most brilliantly colored species, and is of inoffensive man- 

 ners. It is altogether terrestrial in its habits. 



COLUBER GUTTATUS GUTTATUS' Linnaeus. 



Head elongated, outlines nearly straight, and tapering from the sides 

 of the occii)ut to the subtruncate snout. Frontal large, longer than 

 wide, pentagonal, with the lateral margins at a very slight angle with 



' For synonymy see Coluber gnttalns above. 

 NAT MUS 08 53 



