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In the eastern territory of our country We 
find but two distinct species of garter snakes. 
One of these is very variable, with two strongly 
marked varieties. This species is the common 
garter snake frequently called the ‘striped 
snake.’ 
The common garter snake or striped snake 
has a stout body and attains a length of three 
feet when full grown. Its general color is dull 
greenish above, light greenish below and along 
the sides. The dorsal stripe is narrow but 
prominent, the lateral stripes are much broader 
but duller than the dorsal stripe. Rows of 
dark spots along the sides between the stripes ; 
these are not prominent in this species—Ku- 
tania-sirtalis. No marks or spots on under 
side, yet there are always present on the outer 
edges of each scute or large overlapping scale 
on the under side, a row of small semi-circular 
dots. The tail is about one-fifth the total 
length of the body and it tapers to a fine point. 
So variable in coloration is this species that I 
have found specimens from light pea-green to 
almost black in color, yet because of the ever- 
present stripes I never hesitated to immediately 
distinguish the individuals as members of the 
garter snake family. 
The varieties of this species are the ordinata 
which is grayish or brownish green with dull 
stripes but very prominent spots, generally 
about eighty-five in number. The dorsalis 
which has a broad dorsal stripe and a row of 
