The Ring-necked Snakes 



is a painstaking observer of reptiles; an extract of his letter 

 follows : 



"In August, 1891, two small Diadophis punctains, evidently 

 newly born, appeared in a case containing several adults. No 

 indication of eggs had been observed, nor were any fragments 

 of egg membranes found when the young were first seen. The 

 apparently near relationship of Diadophis to Ophibohis and 

 Coronella — both egg-laying genera — makes me rather cautious 

 about believing that Diadophis is viviparous in a state of nature, 

 and it may be that the conditions of captivity accelerated 

 the development of the young and that they were ovo-viviparously 

 produced. That is the only time they have bred here." 



THE WESTERN RING-NECKED SNAKE 

 Diadophis amabilis, (B. & G.) 



This pretty species is considerably more slender than the 

 preceding. It has a greater number of abdominal plates — from 

 180 to 210. 



Colouration. — The colouration of the typical form is much 

 like that of the preceding species, except that the black spots on 

 the abdomen are irregularly distributed instead of in a straight 

 row as seen with the allied species. 



The variety pulchellus — the Pacific Ring-necked Snake: 

 From the typical form this variety differs in the distinctly greenish 

 (sometimes bluish) ground-colour, the reddish collar and the coral 

 red hue of the abdomen. It inhabits Oregon and California. 



Dimensions; Total Length 17 inches. 



Length of Tail 3f 



Greatest Diameter J 



Width of Head J " 



Length of Head -^ " 



Distribution. — Texas, westward to the Pacific Coast; north- 

 ward to Washington. Sonora, Mexico. 



Habits. — From the actions of captive specimens it seems 

 that this little snake at times employs constriction to overpower 

 its prey — small, burrowing snakes, salamanders and earthworms. 

 It has a curious habit, when annoyed, of elevating and twisting 

 its tail in corkscrew fashion, displaying both the dark ground- 

 colour and the bright red of the underside and producing a pecul- 

 iar effect. The tail is often reared two inches or more from the 

 coil. The habit is demonstrated in the photograph. 



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