Small, Miscellaneous Smooth-scaled Serpents 



snakes, leading rather a secretive life. The eye is small with 

 a vertical pupil. 1 he rear teeth of the upper jaw are considerably 

 enlarged. 



THE ROCK SNAKE 

 Hypsiglena ochrorhyncha, (Cope) 



Size small; body stout; head moderately distinct. One 

 large preocular plate, and generally a small one below it (the plates 

 in front of the eye). Scales in 21 rows. 



Colouration. — Gray, pale brown or yellow, with a series of 

 irregular, dark brown blotches on the back, very narrowly mar- 

 gined with black; two small, alternating series of blotches on 

 each side. 



A dark band through each eye, extending backward to the 

 neck; a central stripe between these bands; the three bands 

 often fuse into a large, dark blotch situated a short distance 

 behind the head. Top of head and lip plates, dotted with brown. 

 Abdomen white. 



Dimensions. — Total Length 15! inches 



Length of Tail 3I " 



Greatest Diameter J " 



Width of Head ^ " 



Length of Head y\ " 



Disirihition. — Western Texas to southern California; Lower 

 California and northern Mexico. 



Habits. — Probably nocturnal, owing to the elliptical pupil. 

 A small swift (Sceloporus) was found in the stomach of an alco- 

 holic specimen; the eggs of some small lizard or snake were 

 taken from the stomach of another. 



The Genus Stilosoma: One species known; it inhabits 

 Florida. Body very slender. Teeth of the upper jaw of about 

 uniform size. Ventral plate entire. 



THE SHORT-TAILED SNAKE 

 Stilosoma extenuatnm, (A. E. Brown) 

 Form very slender; tail very short. Head not distinct 

 from the neck; snout prominent. Scales in 19 rows. 



Colouration. — " Body colour silvery gray, with 60 to 70 ir- 

 regular, dark brown dorsal spots with blackish border on the body, 



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