92 



feet in length. It immediately showed a disposition to fight, and Mr. 

 Ridgway says that it was the most viciously pugnacious snake that he had 

 ever seen. An examination of the stomach showed that it had just 

 swallowed a half-grown rabbit. Its disposition appears to be in strong 

 contrast to that of C. obsoleh(8, 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 farmer. 



Coluber guttatus, Linn. 



Spotted Coluber. 



Coluber guttatus, Linnseus, 1766, 6i, ed. xii, i, 385; Holbrook, 1842, 

 54-, iii, 65, pi. 14; Scotophis guttatus, Baird and Girard, 1853, 6, 78; 

 Elaphis guttatus, Garman, 1883, 13, 55, pi. iv, fig. 1. 



Form elongated and somewhat compressed. Head narrow, tapering to 

 the rounded snout. Tail about one-sixth the total length. Cephalic 

 plates not greatly different from those of C. vulpinus. The dorsal scales 

 disposed in 27 rows ; rather feebly keeled, those of some of the outer rows 

 smooth. Ventral plates 214 to 236; subcaudals 63 to 79. 



The ground color is light red, fading in alcohol to brownish yellow. 

 Along the back there is a series of about 40 blotches, or " saddles" 

 (Cope), of dark red, each dark bordered. These blotches are somewhat 

 irregular and variable in form. They are from 4 to 6 scales in length. 

 Below this dorsal series on each side is another series of spots, alternately 

 larger and smaller. Of these, the larger alternate with the dorsal series. 

 All these send down prolongations to the belly. The lower surface is 

 checkered with black and yellow. Head red, with a band of dark red, 

 edged with black, running across the face, through the eyes, and to the 

 corners of the mouth, and on the sides of the neck; another narrower 

 band in front of this, and a third from the back of the head to the neck. 

 The size is about that of C. vulpinus. 



Distributed from Virginia to Illinois, and south to tlie Gulf of Mex- 

 ico. It has been sent to the National Museum from Mt. Carmel, Illi-. 

 nois. This Mt. Carmel specimen has only twenty-six rows of scales. 

 Some Colubers in the collection of Mr. A. W. Butler, of Brookville, I 

 refer to this species. Another specimen, undoubtedly C. guttatus, is 

 said to have been taken in Putnam county, at Greencastle. It is a large 

 specimen, and has the characteristic head-bands. The scales are wholly 

 smooth. 



Of this serpent, Holbrook remarks that it is commonly observed 

 labout the roadsides early in the morning or at the dusk of evening ; 



