162 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



Habitat. — Its distribution is more northern, being re- 

 ported east of the Rocky Mountains from Canada south 

 to Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Da- 

 kota, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, 

 Arkansas, and Texas. Missouri localities : — St. Charles 

 and Montgomery Counties. In Illinois, Madison County. 

 In his "Variations and Genetic Relationship of the Garter 

 Snakes" Mr. Ruthven gives "Madison County, Mis- 

 souri," evidently a mistake. 



Habits. — So far I have only found this species on the 

 so-called "wet prairie" near Edwardsville, Madison Co., 

 111., on the "Dardenne Prairie," St. Charles Co., Mo., and 

 on the prairies of Montgomery Co., near Montgomery 

 City, Mo. These prairies are inundated annually by high 

 waters of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. Many of 

 these prairies have never been cultivated and are over- 

 grown with high rank grass. Wherever there is any water 

 left after these overflows, the snakes are found in abun- 

 dance. When intruded upon they try to escape. They 

 feed on small fish, frogs, and tadpoles. I once caught one 

 that was gorged with ten small gars about four or five 

 inches long. To eleven of these snakes, which I had in a 

 vivarium, I brought home seven frogs, Rana pipiens. Such 

 a fight ensued that one victim would be tackled by two or 

 three snakes, each trying to swallow the frog. Of course 

 finally the strongest one secured the coveted morsel, but 

 only after the unfortunate ones had held on to the very 

 edge of the mouth or even to the teeth of the winner. 



Dates of capture. — April 15, 22, 29; July 4. 



53. Thamnophis sirtalis Linnaeus. Common Garter 

 Snake. Striped Snake. 



Eutainia sirtalis, Eutaenia sirtalis, Eutaenia sirtalis sirtalis, Tropi- 



donotus sirtalis, Coluber ordinatus var. sirtalis, Eutainia sirtalis 



sirtalis, Tropidonotus bipunctatus, Tropidonotus taenia, Coluber 



sirtalis, Le sirtale, Angitis viridis maculatus. 



Description. — Rostral wider than high, visible from above. Nasals 



two, nostril between. Frontal hexagonal. One anteorbital, three post- 



