AlKINSON : KkI'III.KS of AlI.IXIHENY CctUN'lY. 147 



CC. Loreal plate absent. 



Scales in fifteen or seventeen rows. Storeria. 



L5B. Anal plate not divided. 

 D. Loreal plate present. 



Scales in nineteen rows. EuTTliNIA. 



AA. Dorsal scales smooth. 

 E. Anal plate divided. 



F. Nasal plate single. 



Scales in thirteen rows. Carphophiops. 



Scales in fifteen rows. LlOPELTlS. 



FF. Nasal plates two in number. 



Scales in fifteen rows ' back spotted. Virginia. 



Scales in seventeen rows. Zamenis. 



Scales in fifteen rows ; back blue, with a yellow ring 



around the neck. Diadophis. 



EE. Anal plate not divided. 



H. Nasal plates two in number. 



Scales in twenty-one rows. Osceola. 



Genus Carphophiops Gervais. 



1. Carphophiops amcFiius (Hay). Ground-snake. 



This species appears to be rare, or at least, it escapes observation. 

 The writer has taken it once in Allegheny County, and once in Greene 

 County. The ground-snake lives under logs and stones. It is said 

 to eat insects. An earth-worm was taken from the stomach of a speci- 

 men in the collection of the Carnegie Museum. The length of this 

 snake is about ten inches. 



Genus Virginia Baird and Girard. 



2. Virginia valerice Baird and Girard. Spotted ground-snake. 



The writer took a specimen of this species at Wilkinsburg, June 

 19, 1899. This is the only record for the occurrence of this snake in 

 Western Pennsylvania. Its habits are said to be similar to those of 

 Carphophiops ama:nus. The length of this specimen is eleven inches. 



Genus Zamenis Wagler. 



3. Zamenis constrictor {Wnxi-^twi^. Black racer. 



Occurs throughout the county, but not so commonly as the other 

 black-snake, Coluber obsoletus, which is found in the woods, while 

 this species occurs chiefly in the fields. This snake feeds on small 

 mammals, birds, and batrachians ; one specimen had a weasel in its 

 stomach. 



