THE SNAKES 241 



multiplication. They are viviparous, giving birth to 

 as many as seventy-five young in a litter; the usual num- 

 ber varies from thirty to fifty at a birth. The young are 

 ingenuously secretive, and not at all particular as to 

 food, thriving as well upon an unvarying diet of earth- 

 worms as upon small frogs and toads. 



A key to the Striped Snakes of North America is in- 

 teresting in showing the methods of separating them, 

 and their distribution. The same has been popularly 

 constructed, as follows: — 



I. Lateral (side) stripes on 3d and 4>th rows of scales, 

 a Very slender species. 



Three vivid yellow stripes on a uniform, blackish-brown body 

 hue. Eastern Ribbon Snake, E. saurita. 



Distribution: U. S. east of the Mississippi. 

 Stripes pronounced on sides; center stripe showing only on 

 neck. Florida Ribbon Snake, E. sackenii. 



Distribution: So. Car., Georgia and Florida. 

 Three vivid stripes on uniform blackish body hue; center 

 stripe orange — lateral stripes much paler. Western Ribbon 

 Snake, E. proximo. 



Distribution: Indiana and Illinois to Mexico. 

 b Body stout. 



Center stripe orange; lateral stripes paler; body sometimes 

 spotted. Plains Garter Snake, E. radix. 



Distribution: Indiana to Rockies; Canada to Texas. 

 Head not distinct. Three yellow stripes on a uniform black- 

 ish-brown body hue, the lateral stripes sometimes covering the 

 2d, 3d and 4th rows of scales. Butler's Garter Snake, E. 

 butleri. 



Distribution: Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. 

 Eye large; three narrow yellow stripes on obscurely spotted 

 body color. Arizona Garter Snake, E. megalops. 



Distribution: Arizona; New Mexico and northern Mexico. 

 II. Lateral stripe on 2d and 3d rows of scales. 



Scales usually in 21 rows; 8 upper lip plates — labials — 

 Eutcenia elegans, an extremely variable species; the varieties 

 follow : 



Three yellow stripes, generally on a uniform black or brown 

 ground color. Western Garter Snake, E. elegans (Typical). 

 Distribution: Pacific Region; California to Oregon. 

 Gray or greenish, with spots breaking across the stripes. 



