Atkinson: Rkptilks ok Allegheny County. 151 



it would take. The house-snake sometimes reaches a length of four 

 feet in this locality. It is oviparous. A set of twelve eggs of this 

 species was found in an old sawdust-pile, August 30, 1899. 



Genus Eutaenia Baird and Girard. 

 Key to Local Stkciks or Eut/F,nl\. 



Light stripe on third and fourth rows of dorsal scales, counting from the 



ventral plate. sanrita. 



Light stripe on tlie second nntl third rows of dorsal scales. sirtalis. 



15. Etitcc/lia saiirita (Linnaeus). Ribbon-snake. 



This species occurs commonly around Aspinwall, but is rarely 

 met with in other parts of the country. This localized distribution is 

 not explained by any difference in the character of the country. This 

 snake is one of our most beautiful, as well as most active species. 

 It is very gentle in disposition, and does not bite under any circum- 

 stances. 



Beetles, crickets, and tadpoles have been found in their stomachs. 

 It may reach three feet in length, and is very slender. 



16. Eutienia si?-ialis {hmwx-w^i). Garter-snake. 



This is our most abundant snake, occurring almost everywhere. 

 When attacked it defends itself with a great show of bravery, but 

 when caught it soon loses its aggressiveness. It feeds on batrachians 

 almost entirely, chiefly on the common toad, Bi/fo lentiginosus aineri- 

 canus of which it eats a great number ; a large garter-snake in cap- 

 tivity ate six medium-sized toads in four days. It may reach a length 

 of three feet, and is of a heavier build than the Ribbon-snake, Eutcenia 

 saurita. 



I have found the young to vary in number from twelve to forty-nine, 

 depending largely on the size of the female. They are usually born 

 in the latter jjart of August, or early in September. 



Besides the species there are three subspecies oi Eiifcenia sirtalis found 

 within the limits of Allegheny County. These subspecies intergrade 

 with each other, and, although typical specimens of the different sub- 

 species appear distinctly different, there are specimens, which are very 

 hard to classify. 



17. EiitiC/iia sirtalis dorsalis Baird and Girard. Garter-snake. 



The writer took an adult specimen of this subspecies near Coraopolis, 

 on the bank of a small creek, August 13, 1S99. It is twenty-four inches 

 long, and has a distinct black border on each side of the median dorsal 



