144 



and the stripes often obscure. The general color is olive, with a 

 narrow dorsal stripe and three series of small dark spots on each 

 side, abont seventy beinc found between the head and base of tail. 



Spec.N^Mse-A- 



• DRAWN EJ/~ Viil. f?. Woifoa - 



Fig. 7. Structures of Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtaliti). 

 Drawn under the Supervision of the Economic Zoologist. 



Spec. MS 14 52- A- 



Natural Size. 



The sides and belly are ji^reenish. and the side stripes are rather 

 broad and often almost entirely obliterated or broken into small 

 si)ots. The colors are mnch duller than in the preceding species. 



The Garter Snake is by far our most common snake, and is 

 found almost everywhere in the United States except in California, 

 rt is found everywhere in Pennsylvania, and commonly occurs near 

 the abode of man. This has earned for it the occasional name of 

 "Garden Snake." This seems to be a reptile which has not yet 

 settled down to a fixed type of coloration, as there are at least 

 three or four i)rominent varieties in this State and these are 

 distinguished by additional varietal names, T/iamnop/r/'s Hirtalis 

 ordinatus. or the Ordinary Spotted Garter Snake, shown in Plate 

 XX, has the stripes obscure or wanting, and the spots distinct; also. 

 S})ots are ])resent on the sides of the ventral plates. It is northeast 

 ern variety. Thamnophis sirtalls dors^h's (Baird and ( Jirard), shown 

 in Plate XIX, or the Spotted and Striped Garter Snake, has the 

 dorsal slrii)e broad and two rows of distinct spots on each side of it. 

 This is a common North American species and is found abundantly 

 in (his State. 



Another variety which is given the sci<'ntilic name 'Thamnophis 



