ECOLOGY OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN. Ill 



During the summer of 1904, eight specimens were taken on Isle Royale. 

 These snakes, as has been stated by Smith,* appear to be somewhat nocturnal 

 although not strictly so, and the specimens found on Isle Royale were taken, 

 for the most part, under stones in the coniferous, VI, and deciduous forest, 

 III. On September 3, after a heavy frost, four adult specimens, very sluggish 

 on account of the cold, were found under a stone in the woods. These 

 were brought to Ann Arbor alive. One of these snakes, University Museum 

 Catalogue No. 33408, during the night of September 7 gave birth to a single 

 young, and the next morning was found dead ; the young one died the follow- 

 ing night. The mother was examined at once, and six entire and two muti- 

 lated embryos were removed. As the mutilated specimens were nearest 

 the opening of the oviduct, it is possible that they may have been killed 

 by an injury to the mother in rolling over the stone under which she was 

 found, and prevented the birth of those that lay behind them. The young 

 snake was 45 mm. long, of a rich dark brown above, and pink below. As 

 in the adult specimens, the pink was confined to the center of the gastro- 

 steges, not extending to the edges. The upper occipital spot was bright 

 yellow and well defined; the laterals smaller and less distinct, although 

 plainly present. 



Another adult. University Museum Catalogue No. 33409, died on Septem- 

 ber 10. This is also a female and possesses four nearly mature embryos 

 in the right oviduct. The left oviduct is flattened out against the dorsal 

 body w^all and contains but one very small embryo which lies in the 

 lower part of the oviduct; notwithstanding its small size, however, it is 

 evidently nearly mature, as the yolk has entirely disappeared. 



During the night of September 19, a third specimen. University Museum 

 Catalogue No. 33410, gave birth to nine young, one of which was dead. 

 The fourth specimen. University Museum Catalogue No. 33411, during the 

 night of September 26 gave birth to seven young, one of which was dead. 

 These records are interesting on account of the questions w^hich they raise, as to 

 the size of the young at the time of hibernation. On the Isle, during the 

 first part of September, the nights were cold, and heavy frosts occurred 

 frequently, so that the specimens found in the morning were very sluggish, 

 and the time of hibernation was probably near at hand. 



Since the above was written, the University Museum has received two 

 specimens from Dr. C. A. Davis, which were taken on Paint River, near Crj^s- 

 tal Falls, Iron County, on August 22, 1905. 



2. Diadophis punctatus (L.). Ring-necked Snake. Specimens of this 

 snake have been taken by Dr. Downing at Marquette. 



3. Thamnophissirtalis sirtalis (L.). Common Garter Snake. Specimens of 

 the Common Garter Snake have been taken at Marquette by Dr. Downing, and 

 near Limestone Mountain (1903), in the Porcupines (1903 and 1904), and on 

 Isle Royale (1904). They are more commonly found along the streams, 

 although they are also often found in forest clearings. The University 

 Museum has recently received a specimen from Dr. C. A. Davis, which was 

 taken in the woods near Bessemer, Gogebic county, August 28, 1905. There 

 are four specimens (No. 7454) listed in the University Museum Catalogue, 

 Vol. 2, p. 196, as taken on Isle Royale by Dr. Foote. These specimens are 

 probably the basis for Smith's Isle Royale locality. f 



4. Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis (Say). Pacific Garter Snake. This 



*Smith, W. H. Report on the Reptiles and Amphibians of Ohio, p. 698. Geological Survey of 

 Ohio, Vol. IV., 1882. 

 tSmith, loe. cit., p. 680. 



