BepfiJes and Aniphihians of IJUnois. 291 



under side of the head the color is uniform yellow, and this 

 color occupies the middle of the scutella? for some distance be- 

 hind the head. Labials mostly yellow, some of them with faint 

 dusky margins. 



Total length, 64.50; tail, 10. 



Throughout the State. Most abundant in southern Illi- 

 nois. Rashville, Galesburg, McLean county, Mt. Carmel 

 (J. Schneck), Union county. 



Variety obsoletus. 



Dorsal scales in twenty-five to twenty-nine rows. Ven- 

 trals 231-239. Subcaudals .76-85. Color above black or 

 brown, sometimes with a gray ground color and black or brown 

 dorsal and lateral spots. Beneath dark slate-gray posteriorly, 

 becoming paler forward. 



Variety lindheimeri. 



Dorsal scales in twenty-nine rows. Ventrals 217-284. 

 Subcaudals 72-85. Ground color gray, narrowly separating 

 dorsal and lateral black or brown blotches. 



Southern Illinois. 



With material representing this species from various local- 

 ities in the State, I find it impossible to separate the variety 

 confinis from obsoletus. A complete series may be selected con- 

 necting the darkest with the palest individuals of the species. 

 The rows of dorsal scales vary from twenty-five to twenty- 

 seven in both black and light-colored examples. This is a fine 

 large species which bears a superficial resemblance to the com- 

 mon black snake {Coluber constrictor) and this latter species is 

 occasionally credited with traits which belong to the pilot 

 snake. The pilot snake is said to climb trees in search of birds^ 

 nests as does the true black snake. Dr. J. Schneck, of Mt. 

 Carmel, in a note to the American Naturalist for 1880, states 

 that one of the forms of this species has the habit of moving the 

 tail rapidly when excited, and thus producing a buzzing sound. 

 Mr. Chas. Aldrich makes a similar statement concerning an- 

 other form which he collected in Iowa. 



