Reptiles aiul Aniphihians of Illiuois. *i75 



Regina kirtlandi*, Kenn. 



Ri'HiiKi h-ir1l<ni<lii. Kenn., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1H5(5. 



p. IKj. 

 Tn>i)i<I<)rh, Ilium ki rllaiidi. Davis and Rice, Bull. 111. State Lab. 



Xat. Hist., I., Xo. o, 18K3, p. 41; J3ull. Chicago Acad. Sci.. 



1883. 

 I'liqiidoiiotiis liiifhiiidii. S. Gailitian, Mem. Mus. Comp. 'AoiW., 



1883. pp. 28, 143, pi. 1, fig. 3. 



Body tapering towards the extremities. Head small, 

 scarcely wider than the neck. Tail short, tapering, in adults 

 abruptly more slender than the body. Dorsal rows of scales 

 nineteen, all carinated. Rostral low and wide. Frontal hexag- 

 onal. Supraciliaries small. One nasal, grooved below the eye. 

 One anteorbital. Eye small. Two postorbitals. Six suprala- 

 bials, fifth and sixth largest. Seven infralabials, fifth largest. 

 Dorsal rows of scales nineteen. Ventrals 131-1:^;^. Anal 

 divided. Subcaudals in 52-56 pairs. 



Color above brown, with two dorsal series of black spots, 

 and on each side a series of larger round black spots, some- 

 times with a series of small spots beneath the last. Flanks 

 gray. Ventral surface, between two submarginal series of 

 round black spots, bright red, almost carmine beneath the tail, 

 gradually fading to a dull yellowish white on throat and under 

 side of head. Labials yellowish. Young are almost uniform 

 brown above, and frequently are speckled with black between 

 the round spots of the ventral scutes. 



Total length of an adult, 17; tail, 3.25. 



Formerly common in the north half of the State; rare at 

 present. West Northfield (Kennicott), Normal, Champaign. 



A handsome snake, which ten years ago was not un- 

 common along prairie brooks, in the central part of the State. 

 Tiling, ditching, and cultivation of the soil have destroyed its 

 haunts and nearly exterminated it. Mr. Kennicott found it 

 in northern Illinois under logs. [ have never seen it else- 

 where than on the open prairie. It has a peculiar habit of 

 flattening its body and remaining motionless to escape de- 

 tection. 



* Prof. E. D. Cope has recently established the genus Clonophis 

 for this species. 



