1078 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1^98. 



lu twenty-two speciuieiis in which the leugth of the tail was exam- 

 ined, the tbllowiug results were obtained. Four and three-quarters 

 times in total leugth, 4; four and oue-half times, 1; four and one-third, 

 2; four and one-hftb, 1; four and one tenth, 4; four and one-twelfth, 1; 

 four and one-fifteenth, 1; four, 3; three and seven-eighths, 1; three and 

 six sevenths, 1; three and five-sixths, 1; three and six- sevenths, 1. 



Variations in color exist which connect the JiJ. s. parietalis with 

 several other subspecies. Thus in Oat. Nos. 954 and 7798 the superior 

 row of spots is obsolete on the posterior two-thirds of the length and 

 the dorsal stripe is bordered by a narrow black line, thus approaching 

 the -E/. s. dorsalis. In Oat. Nos. 664 and 4775, both from Kansas, and a 

 specimen in my private collection from Fort Harker, Kansas, the spots 

 of the superior row are distinct, and not confluent into a band. This 

 form differs from the E. s. sirtalis only in having the spaces between the 

 spots red instead of olive brown or green. Oat. No. 8374 has the same 



character. In some spec- 

 imens from Oregon the 

 red spaces between the 

 spots of the inferior row 

 are very much c o n - 

 tracted, and in some 

 nearly closed, with black, 

 thus approaching most 

 closely the form JE. s. tri- 

 lineata of the Pacific 

 coast. Finally, in four 

 specimens from Oalifor- 

 nia there are eight supe- 

 rior labials, regularly 

 arranged. In two of 

 these, from San Francisco (Oat. Nos. 865, 893), the confluence of the 

 spots of the superior row with each other and with those of the lower 

 row is imperfect, and on the hinder part of the length nonexistent. In 

 the others (Oat. Nos. 864, 896) the colors on the posterior half of the 

 body are arranged as in E. s. dorsalis^ the anterior half conforming to 

 the definition of the IJ. h. parictaliH. 



This subspecies represents the E. s. siirtalu in the central region of 

 North America, which it completely replaces. It is the most abundant 

 species of the northern parts of the Pacific region, ranging from Walla 

 Walla to the coast, and as far south as Fresno, Oalifornia. On the 

 coast proper it is associated with three other subspecies. Its habits 

 are semiaquatic. I have seen it in large numbers on the shores of the 

 lakes of Oregon, where it lies in wait for frogs, toads, etc. It haunts 

 the high grass of the creeks and rivers of the great plains, in which 

 it quickly glides when j)ursued. 



Mr. S. N. Phoads, in his exploration in British Oolumbia in 1892, 

 obtained three specimens from Ilatzic, two from Sicamoos, British 



Fig. 304. 



EUT^ONIA SIRTALI.S I'AIUETALIS SAY. 



= 1. 



Pre.sno, California. 



Cat. No. 12576, U.S.N.M. 



