ZOOLOGY. 301 



small series on each side, the blotches brown on the middle of the body, black towards the head_and tail. Abdomen yellowish 

 white, with an external series of rather large black spots on each side, inside of which are two irregular series of wavy black 

 blotches. Head much spotted with black and labials heavily margined with the same. A pitch black post-ocular with a frontal 

 band, and sub-orbital vertical bar. — Kennicott. 



The prairie bull snake is very numerous in eastern Minnesota, where I obtained many 

 specimens. They are said to be occasionally ploughed up by the settlers wheu breaking the 

 prairie sod. 



During the rutting season they seem to follow each other by the scent, as I noticed upon 

 one occasion that having captured a fine living individual, and placed it with others in a barrel 

 near my tent, a very large snake of the same species was found a short time after but a short 

 distance from my reptile prison, being on its way in a direct line from the locality whence the 

 other had just been brought. 



A nearly similar action was observed with another species. The facts might have been 

 simply accidental, although if so, seemed strangely to confirm the popular belief on the subject. 

 Whether the mates of these and other species do follow each other by the scent is well worthy 

 of future investigation. The fact seemed so impressed on the minds of my companions that 

 the naturalist's tent was for a time tabooed. 



A veiy large Pitvoplds was collected by me in Nebraska. Its colors were considerably 

 darker than those of the Minnesota specimens. The length of the skin, stretclied somewhat 

 in taking off, was eighty-seven inches. — S. 



BASCANION VETUSTUS, Baird & Girard. 



Tlie Grreii Racer. 



Plate XX, Fig. 1. 



Bascanion vetustus, B. & G. Catal. N. A. Reptiles, I, 1853, 97.— Girard, U.S. Expl. Exped . Herpet. 127. PI. 

 VIII, figs. 12—19. 



Sp. Ch. — Width of head equal to half its length, taking the greatest dimensions, .nfcrior post-orbital in a notch between 

 the fourtli and fifth labials. Colors, when fresh, pale green above, straw yellow beneath, sometimes varying to brownish above. 



Three specimens of this handsome snake were caught in or near the Yakima valley, in 

 August, 1853. Like its relative, the black snake of the Atlantic States, it is perfectly harm- 

 less, and does not even bite usually when handled. It runs with great rapidity, and the 

 popular name given both to this and to the allied, if not identical, B. Jlaviventris, of Nebraska 

 and Kansas, is very appropriate. Not found west of the Coast range. — C. 



A specimen caught August 8, at Fort Steilacoom, had the following colors when fresh: Upper 

 parts of a miform broiunish slate color. Edges of scales blackish. Skin colored the same as the 

 central portions of the scales. Belly bluish white, with a tinge of yellow anteriorly and under 

 the chin. Caudal snutella much darker than those of the middle. 



Specimens from the Dalles partake of the characters of B. Jlaviventris, and are of a pale 

 olive, becoming brown posteriorly, sides bluish. Young specimens are ash colored above, with 

 chestnut spots; head olive and spotted. Beneath pale greenish yellow, with small reddish 

 brown spots anteriorly. In older ones the blotches of the back become confluent and finally 

 unicolor. 



It has the same habit of climbing in bushes common to the black snake of the eastern States. 

 Found sparingly at Puget Sound.-— S. 



