Allen.] 180 [December 2, 



setts, and has received specimens from Vermont. " The Northamp- 

 ton locality referred to is undoubtedly the present one on Mount Tom. 



9. Tropidonotus Sirtalis Holbrook. {Coluber Sirtalis Linn., 

 Storer's Rep., p. 221 ; Eutcenia Sirtalis Bd. and Gir.) Striped Snake. 

 Very common; our most abundant snake. 



10. Tl'opidonotus Saurita Putnam. (Coluber Saurita Linn., 

 ' Storer's Rep., p. 229; Eutcenia Saurita Bd. and Gir.) Ribbon 



Snake. " Striped Snake." Nearly as common as the last, but more 

 confined to damp or wet localities. 



11. Nerodia Sipedon Baird and Girard. (Coluber Sipedon 

 Linn., Storer's Rep., p. 228; Tropidonotus nir/er Holbrook.) Water 

 Snake. "Water Adder." Rather common near ponds, occasionally 

 occurring in great abundance. Seldom seen away from the borders 

 of ponds or streams, and only in wet places. 



This species seems to combine with its carnivorous appetite a con- 

 siderable degree of rapidity of motion when in the water. At Fresh 

 Pond, in Cambridge, I once saw one hauled from the edge of the 

 water and killed, that had a live pickerel in its mouth a foot in 

 length. The New England representatives of this species being gen- 

 erally darker than those of the Middle States, Dr. Holbrook consid- 

 ered them as belonging to a distinct species, which he called Trop- 

 idonotus niger. 



12. Lampropeltis triangula Cope. (Coluber eximius De Kay, 

 Storer's Rep., p. 227; Ophibolus eximlus Bd. and Gir.) Milk Snake. 

 " Chequered Adder." Not uncommon, but much less numerous than 

 formerly. 



13. Bascanion constrictor Bd. and Gir. (Coluber constrictor 

 Linn., Storer's Rep., p. 225.) Black Snake. Not now generally 

 common; formerly abundant. Like the field mice, it seems much 

 more numerous some years than others; possibly the result of the 

 same cause in both instances, — the relative degree to which the ground 

 is protected by snow in winter. This sjiecies ajipears to be eminently 

 gregarious, especiallj' early in spring, when several (formerly scores) 

 are often seen together sunning themselves. They probably collect 

 in autumn, many hibernating together, sometimes alone, but not un- 

 frequently associated with other species. A farmer in this vicinity 

 turned up with his plough, quite early in May, 18G8, a ball of theni 

 numbering between seventy and eighty, and averaging between four 

 and five feet in length. Another farmer, not long since, ploughed up at 

 the same season a bunch of snakes, chiefly of the common striped 



