BRANSON : SNAKES OF KANSAS. 369 



Other specimen have the spots disappeared by fusion, leaving 

 the stripes intact so perfectly as in this specimen. In those in- 

 dividuals from Lac qui Parle, Minn., the fusion is complete as to 

 the superior row of spots, but the inferior may be seen faintly 

 outlined on stretching the skin, as in some of the dark forms of 

 E. sirtalis parictalis." 



Then, according to Professor Cope's own descrii^tion, there is 

 no difference in coloration between the Lac qui Parle speci- 

 mens of E. sirtalis obscu7-a and dark forms of E. sirtalis parietalis. 

 As coloration is the only distinguishing mark for these sub- 

 species, why does he call these specimens obscura instead of 

 parietalis? In the museum of Kansas University is a large 

 number of specimens of E. sirtalis parietalis from Douglas 

 county. These show all gradations of color from Cope's E. sir- 

 talis obscura to E. sirtalis parietalis, but after studying the speci- 

 mens carefully I find nothing that warrants the distinguishing 

 of E. sirtalis obanu-a as a subspecies, and I include all the 

 specimens under E. sirtalis. The drawings here given show 

 the variations of E. sirtalis parietalis as represented in the Kan- 

 sas University museum. 



Cragin (11. 119) reported E. sirtalis ordinoides from Kansas. 

 Cope distinguishes this subspecies from E. sirtalis parietalis by 

 the color between the lateral spots being chestnut instead of 

 red, and by its having twenty-one rows of scales and eight up- 

 per labials. E. sirtalis parietalis varies in color and scutellation 

 enough to include this subspecies. A specimen recently brought 

 to this laboratory agrees with Cope's E. sirtalis ordinoides, but 

 there can be no doubt of its being E. sirtalis parietalis. 



Mozley (20. 34) reported E. sirtalis dorsalis from Kansas. I 

 have examined the specimens upon which this report was based, 

 and am sure that they should be referred to E. sirtalis parietalis. 

 Cope (10. 1076) describes this subspecies as follows: "Lower 

 surfaces and lateral stripe olivaceous ; gastrosteges with a 

 small black spot near each end. Dorsal stripe red, with a 

 delicate black or deep brown border on each side. Space be- 

 tween dorsal and lateral stripes brown, marked with a single 

 series of small black spots, which occupy parts of three rows of 

 scales next to the lateral stripe, and do not, therefore, reach 

 the dorsal stripe. Spaces between the lateral spots red." Fur- 

 ther, he says that the gastrostegal spots are smaller, more 



