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No. 19. Lampropeltis getulua (L.) Yar. sayi (Holb.). Chain or Thun- 

 der Snake, King Snake. 



The Chain Snake is so named from the coloration or color pat- 

 tern, which gives the appearance of chains extending along the 

 body. It is also called the Thnnder Snake, and one variity is known 

 as the King Snake. The genns Lampropeltis is to be recognized 

 by the absence of keels from the scales; the anal ])late entire; ven- 

 tral plates one hnudred and eighty in number; scales in (wenty-one 

 to twenty-five rows. L. getulus is described as black with narrow 

 yellowish lines forking on the sides, each fork (embracing a large 

 black spot; color chiefly black; belly checkered; scales in twenty-one 

 rows; ventral plates two hundred and ten to two hundred and forty; 

 length fifty inches or less. While this is commonly found from 

 Virginia to Louisiana, mostly east of the mountains, the Yellow- 

 spotted Black Snake or King Snake, which is another varietj'^, is 

 found from the Alleghenies to the Rocky Mountains, we have not 

 collected nor received specimens in the State of Pennsylvania and 

 insert it here on the authority of Dr. Jordan, in his Manual of Ver- 

 tebrates, who gives it from "the Allegheny to the Rocky Mountains." 

 AVe find no author who has made definite observations upon its 

 food, but it is reported commonly by Avriters that it feeds upon 

 batrachians, such as salamanders and toads, and reptiles, such as 

 rattle snakes, moccasins and lizards, and also on birds and moles. 

 This reptile is so w^ell marked that it should be recognized, even by 

 one who is not an expert, and as we are anxious to receive specimens 

 of it we invite readers to help us procure it. 



No. 20. Lampropeltis doliatus (L.) trianguluB (Boie.) Milk Snake or 

 House Snake. Plate XXXI. 



The House Snake or JMillc Snake is among the most numerous of 

 the snakes of l*ennsylvania, and is known by a greater variety of 

 names than is any other one species. It is variously known as the 

 House Snake, Milk Snake, Cliicken Snake, Thunder and Lightning 

 Snake, Red Snake, Horn Snake, Checiuered Snake, Milk Adder, Spot- 

 ted Adder and "Biolsliicli SchUmge" in Tennsylvania German. The 

 jailer is one of tlie most common names in some ])laces. It is known 

 l)y ils grnyisli coloi-. willi Ihree series of brown rounded blolclies 

 boi-dered wilii bla<l<; alxuil Iwenly-live in I he <l<)rsal row. II lias 

 an ai-row-sliajx'd blolcli <ir sjtot on the top of its head, wilh the 

 ]M>int of the iirrow extending toward the tail, and the under side 

 is light, Willi a gicat many s(]uare or rectagular bhick blotclies. 

 These small scjuare black marks on the under side at once distinguish 

 jt from all other species of reptiles found in his State. While the 



