Reptiles and Amphibians of Illinois. 289 



In an attempt to find where the Illinois examples of the 

 species belonged, the published descriptions of American species 

 of the genus have been tabulated, and those characters of each 

 in which any one of the six examples described agreed were 

 checked. It was found that most of them agreed most closely 

 with var. hellona. The descriptions of var. sayi are, however, 

 not Complete, and the result is consequently unsatisfactory. 



The bull snake is not an uncommon species in Illinois, 

 occasionally even occurring in door yards. When offended it 

 will strike, as do most other harmless snakes, and utter a hiss- 

 ing sound accompanied by a humming noise bearing a very 

 remote resemblance to the bellow of a bull, hence the com- 

 mon name. While holding one of these snakes over a table 

 a short time since, the rapid vibration of the tail on the 

 smooth surface of the table gave forth a hissing sound bearing 

 resemblance to the noise made by the rattle of members of the 

 genus Crotalus. The resemblance would doubtless be increased 

 where the tail struck against grasses and leaves, and may serve 

 these snakes as a protection against enemies. The humming 

 noise which accompanies the hissing is due to a vibration of a 

 peculiar flattened and freely movable epiglottis. 



Elaphis, Aldeovandi. 



Aldrovandi, Serpentum et Draconum, 1640, p. 267. 



Bd. and Gir., ScnfopTiis: Cat. N. A. Rapt., Ft. I., 1853, p. 73. 



S. GarmaB, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., 1883, p. 53. 



A few median dorsal rows with faintly carinated scales; 

 dorsal rows twenty-three to twenty-nine. Anal plate divided. 

 Rostral normal. Two internasals. Two prefrontals. Two 

 nasals. Loreal present. Anteorbitals one. Postorbitals two 

 or three. Body long, slender; head distinct; tail long. In- 

 cludes the largest and most active of our Ophidia. 



General color black, uniform, or with obscure blotches. 



E. OBSOLETUS. 



General color brown, with chestnut blotches E. guttatus 



