90 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



Boulder, May 22, 1910 (280 mm.), S. Searcy, No. 245; Lake Eldora, near Eldora, 

 July, 1910 (2 specimens, 410 and 780 mm.), J. E. Gutberlet, No. 233; Park Lake, 

 Tolland, July, 1910 (3 specimens, 360-470 mm.), W. W. Robbins, No. 240; 

 Mammoth Creek, Tolland, July 28, 1910 (570 mm.), No. 244; Tolland, July 24, 

 1910 (670 mm,), F. Ramaley, No. 235; four miles northeast of Ohio City, August 

 22, 1911 (2 specimens, 420 and 550 mm.), A. Daugherty, No. 234; ten miles 

 northeast of Ohio City, July 16, 191 1 (570 mm.), F. Rohwer, No. 236; one mUe 

 northeast of Ward, near Jim Creek, September 4, 191 1 (250 mm.), N. deW. Betts, 

 No. 239; twenty-five miles northwest of Kremmling, July 11, 1911 (230 mm.), 

 J. Henderson, No. 238; four miles northeast of Ohio City, July 14, 191 1 (580 mm.), 

 A. Daugherty, No. 6; Muddy Creek, twenty-five miles northwest of Kremmling, 

 July 12, 1911 (410 mm.), J. Henderson, No. 246; East Lake near Tolland, July 

 12, 1912 (560 mm.), G. S. Dodds, No. 241; west of Nederland, August 30, 1912 

 (850 mm.), J. Henderson, No. 243; Colorado State Historical and Natural History 

 Museum: Dolores, June 27, 1890 (13 specimens, 190-640 mm.), H. G. Smith; 

 Cumbres Pass Lake, August i, 1900 (480 mm.), H. G. Smith; Buffalo, June 29, 

 1903 (900 mm.), W. C. Ferril; Estabrook, July 9, 1903 (700 mm.), H. G. Smith; 

 Cumbres Pass, August 24, 1903 (4 specimens, 415-640 mm.), H. G. Smith; Grand 

 Junction, September 16, 1904 (315 mm.), H. G. Smith; State Teachers^ College 

 Museum: Estes Park, Big Thompson River and upper Cache la Poudre, A. E. 

 Beardsley. 



Genus OPHIBOLUS Baird and Girard 

 Ophibolus Baird and Girard, Cat. N. Am. Reptiles, Pt. I, p. 82, 1853. 



Anal plate entire ; scales smooth, in 19 to 25 rows; superior labials, 

 7 or 8; preoculars, i; posterior maxillary teeth slightly longer than 

 those in front; moderately large to small snakes; colors bright, 

 pattern usually made up of rings or bands. 



The snakes of the genus Ophibolus are called King Snakes or less 

 frequently, as the result of the absurd belief that they can milk 

 cows, Milk Snakes. They are of distinct economic importance 

 because of their feeding habits. Their food consists for the most part 

 of small mammals, lizards and other snakes, members of their own 

 species often being included in the last item. They are terrestrial and 

 enter the burrows of rodents and other snakes in their search for food. 

 They feed on poisonous and harmless snakes alike, as they are quite 

 immune to the bite of the former. When killing their prey they often 

 constrict it. 



