1002 



REPOET OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



Color beneath grayish white, with one or two black specks near the 

 exterior edge of each scale. Tail uuicolor. 



Cat. No3. Gastrosteges. Urosteges. 



4918 134 + 1. 65. 



2222 145 + 1. 46. 



4653 126 + 1. 46. 



7279 132 + 1. 46. 



In some specimens the brown of the sides increases in depth to the 

 dorsal stripe. In some, too, a transverse bar connects the lateral spots 

 across the back. 



In a very young specimen from Grosse He, the colors are dark chest- 

 nut above, with the interval between the occipital patches and the 

 cephalic plates and orbit white, crossed by a vertical black line on the 

 angle of the mouth. 



Measurements. — Length, 4^ inches. 



Anomalies in the scutellation of this species sometimes occur. The 

 most frequent is the longitudinal division of the first abdominal scutum, 

 which then forms a third pair of geneial i)lates. This character has been 

 made the basis of the variety " anomala^^ of Duges.' It occurs in Cat. 

 Nos. 1860, 2215, 4918, 6474, U. S. National Museum. In Cat. No. 2275 

 there are two preoculars on each side. In Cat. No. 1860 there is a 

 small superior postnasal on one side. 



This species is distributed throughout the entire eastern and aus- 

 troriparian regions of North America as far west as Kansas. South- 

 ward it extends into Mexico on the table-land, and to the State of Vera 

 Cruz. The largest specimens come from about New Orleans. 



Like its allies of the Natriciuie, the Storeria del'ayi is viviparous. It 



is abundant and is gentle in disposition, making no attempt to bite. 



It is entirely terrestrial in its habits, and I have never known it to be 



found near water. 



Storeria dekayi Holbrook. 



Catalogue 

 No. 



1858 



7278 

 6388 

 2216 

 4918 

 1957 

 1947 

 6474 

 2230 

 2226 

 2215 

 4986 

 1949 



2222 



4653 

 2210 

 1945 

 5565 

 2095 

 7279 



Number 

 of .speci- 

 mens. 



Locality. 



Kacine, Wisconam. 



St. Louis, Missouri 



Chicngo, Illinois 



Aux Plains, Illinoi.s 



EiiMtpoit, Maine 



Columbus, OLio 



Highland County, Ohio . .. 



Madi.son, Ohio 



Mississippi 



Monticello, Mississippi ... 



Savina, Canada 



St. Uatlierinea, Canada 



Washington, District of 



Columbia. 

 Pensacola, Florida 



Kansas 



Tyree Si)ring8, Tennessee. 

 Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.. 



Jalapa, Mexico . /. 



Brazos Kiver, Texas 



Matamoras, Mexico 



When 

 collected. 



From whom received. 



Dr.P.R.Hoy 



Dr. Geo. Engelraann. 



R. Kennicott 



Prof. L. Lesquereux. 



Nature of 

 specimen. 



Miss H. Tunuison. 

 Prof. S. F. Baird... 

 Dr. D. W. Beadle . . 

 Prof. S. F. Baird . . . 



Dr. W. A. Hammond, TJ. 

 S.A. 



Dr. Owen 



G. W. Fahnestock . 



Dr. B. F. Shumard 



Lieutenant Couch, U.S.A. 



Alcoholic 



type. 

 Alcoholic. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 

 ito. 

 do. 

 do. 

 do. 

 do. 



1 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XI, 1888, p. 9, figures. 



