Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 191 



wards the lower rows of scales. Beneath yellowish white. The lower 

 jaw, chin and upper labials whitish yellow. 



Size. — Total length 695 mm.; tail 258 mm. 



Habitat. — Maryland to Kansas, south to Florida, Texas, 

 and Mexico. Missouri localities: — St. Louis, Jefferson, 

 Wayne, Shannon, Oregon, Ozark, Stone, Jasper, Jackson, 

 Phelps, Crawford, Lewis, Pike, Montgomery, and Warren 

 Counties. In Illinois, St. Clair and Union Counties. 



Habits. — The Green Snake may be easily distinguished 

 from the Grass Snake by its keeled dorsal scales and by 

 the number of scale rows, being 17 in the Green or Bush 

 Snake and 15 in the Grass Snake. I have only found this 

 snake on bushes and small trees. It darts at great speed 

 from bough to bough in pursuit of insects. Its green color 

 gives it protection from the birds which prey upon it. 

 Prof. F. W. Putnam found in Massachusetts on August 

 31st the eggs of this snake under the bark of an old tree 

 stump. They were just ready to hatch, one snake being 

 already out. The eggs were one and a half inches long 

 (38 mm.), and the young a little over five inches (127 

 mm.). 



Genus Virginia. 



Maxillary teeth subequal, smooth. One loral, two internasals, no 

 preorbital. Scales smooth, without pits, in 15 or 17 rows. Anal divided. 

 Head distinct. Size small. 



75. Virginia elegans Kennicott. Virginia's Snake. 



Description. — Rostral narrow, tapering upward. Prefrontals entering 

 the eye and with the loral forming the anterior border of the eye. 

 No anteorbital. Postorbitals two. Temporals 1-2. Parietals large. 

 Upper labials six, third and fourth entering the eye, fifth the largest. 

 Lower labials six, fourth the largest, four in contact with the anterior 

 chin shields, which are equal in length to the posterior. Head small, 

 narrow and relatively high. Snout pointed, eyes small, mouth deeply 

 cleft. Body slender. Tail very short. Dorsal scales in 17 rows, smooth, 

 except those on the tail, which are obtusely keeled. Ventrals 117-126. 

 Anal divided. Subcaudals 29-45 pairs. 



Color. — Above the color is light olivaceous brown to pinkish orange. 

 Dull yellowish white beneath. Labials immaculate. 



Size.— Total length 300 mm.; tail 65 mm. 



