173 



As far as we can learn, this is the only definite statement that 

 has ever been published about the reproduction of the King-necked 

 Snake, excepting a statement by Dr. Atkinson to the effect that he 

 had found ten eggs in a specimen taken by him July 9th, and that 

 from the thickness of the shell enveloping them there were indica- 

 tions that the species is oviparous. When we receive enough speci- 

 mens we shall try to work out the full life history of this valuable 

 little serpent. 



Authors have published various reports about the food of this 

 little Eing-neckcd Snake. It is said to feed ujion reptiles (Cope); 

 batrachians (Cope); toads (Morse); insects (Holbrook, Cope, Morse 

 and Atkinson); and worms (DeKaj- and Atkinson). Atkinson found 

 beetles and earthworms in one. 



Fig-. 15. — Diagram showing the percentages of Food 

 Items of Ring-necked Snake (Diado phis pimctatux): 

 66 per cent. Insects; 16 per cent. Undetermined Ba- 

 trachians; 17 per cent. Salamanders. 



Of the twenty specimens which we have examined, sixteen con- 

 tained no food, two contained undetermined insect fragments, one 

 contained undetermined beetles and Ground Beetles; in another 

 we found an undetermined salamander, and in another a Striped 

 Salamander (Pleihodon cinereus). This indicates its beneficial feed- 

 ing habits, as it appears its chief food consists of earthworms and 

 insects, rather than batrachians (excepting salamanders) and rep- 

 tiles, as some have reported. With this, as with other species, 

 more specimens are needed for further investigations and final con- 

 clusions. 



