17 



mon, as well as the most constant of the four; occurring prin- 

 cipally in the southern parts. 



36. Natrix rhombif era Hallow. Holbrookes Wafer Snake. 

 Abundant, especially in the southern section. In the 



vicinity of New Orleans there is scarcely a water-hole that is 

 not inhabited by an individual of this species. 



37. Natrix cyclopium Dum. and Bibr. Water Snake. 



Very rare, and apparently confined to the southern parts 

 of the state. 



38. Natrix taxispilota Holbrook . Brown Water Snake; Aspie. 

 Common throughout the state; conspicuous by its color- 

 ing and size. 



39. Storeria deKayl Holbrook. Brown Grass Snake. 

 Abundant throughout the state. 



40. Storeria occipitomaculata Storer. Storer\s Grass Snake. 



Not very common, nor is it as generally distributed. 

 Unlike the preceding, it api^arently prefers the pine regions. 



41. Haldea striatula Linn. Brotim Snake. 



A small worm-like snake, fairly common under decjjyiug 

 logs in most parts of the state. 



Sub-order PROTEROGLYPHA. 

 Family ELAPID^ . 



42. Elaps fulvius Linn. Harlequin Snake. 



This sole representative of the Proteroglypha is generally 

 distributed throughout the state, the swamp and marsh re 

 gions excepted. In the hummock lands it is not uncommon, 

 but, nevertheless, is only accidentally met with. Rotten logs 

 and stamps are its favorite hiding places. The oft repeated 

 paragraph of Holbrook in regard to the habits of the Harle- 

 quin snake, that "it is found underground in the sweet potato 

 fields, and is frequently dug up by the laborers when harvest- 

 ing," seems to be founded on mistaken identity. This habit 

 belongs decidedly to the similarly colored species of Lam- 

 propeltis but not to Elaps. Lampropeltis doliatus and L. sys- 

 pilus I have obtained dozens of times in the manner related 

 by Holbrook, never once a Harlequin or "Thunder and Light- 

 ning" snake. 



Sub-order SOLENOGLYPHA. 

 Family CROTALID.i-:. 



43. Agkistrodon contortrix Linn. Copperhead; Highland Moecasin- 

 Once abundant throughout the state, this species has 



