The Striped Snakes — Garter Snakes 



THE WASHINGTON GARTER SNAKE 

 Eutanta elegans, variety biscuiata, (Cope) 

 Some specimens of the E. elegans group — Western Garter 

 Snake — from Washington and Oregon, that appeal strongly in 

 pattern and colours to the variety vagrans, have been given a 

 distinct varietal name owing to the existence of two or three 

 plates in front of the eye (preoculars) in place of the single plate, 

 found with other forms. Upon this character, has been 

 founded the variety biscuiata of Cope. The character is not a con- 

 stant one. Occasional specimens have but a single plate on one 

 side of the head and two plates on the other. Some have three 

 on each side. The rounded character of the body spots and 

 the blackish abdomen, associate this form with vagrans, with 

 which its dimensions tally. 



MARCY'S GARTER SNAKE 

 Eutcenia elegans, variety marciana, (Baird & Girard) 



Of the different varieties of the Western Garter Snake 

 this form is the most strikingly marked. It attains a considerably' 

 larger size than the typical form and is proportionately stouter. 



Colouration. — Straw colour above, with large, square, jet- 

 black spots arranged in tessellated fashion; there is a narrow, 

 pale yellow stripe on the back and an indistinct yellowish stripe 

 on the side. The abdomen is pure white and immaculate 



The upper part of the head is olive. On each temple is 

 a bright yellow crescent, and behind this a blackish collar. The 

 upper lip plates are yellow, those beneath the eye marked with 

 broad, black bars. 



Dimensions. — Following are the measurements of an adult, 

 female specimen, taken near Pecos City, Texas: 



Total Length 28i inches. 



Length of Tail 6^ 



Greatest Diameter J 



Width of Head f " 



Length of Head if\ " 



Distribution. — Common from central Texas to western 

 Arizona. Occurs as far north as southern Colorado. 



Habits. — As a captive, this snake is very hardy, feeding 

 voraciously upon frogs, toads, fishes and that great delicacy 



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