412 KANSAS UNIVERSITY SCIENCE BULLETIN. 



steges 66-100. Anal divided. Urosteges in two series. The 

 following are the scutella and measurements of eight specimens 

 in Kansas University museum : 



Two specimens in the museum have two loreals on one side. 



Color above uniform, ranging from greenish blue to black. 

 The black variety is rare in Kansas. Greenish to yellowish 

 below. Top of head brownish blue, becoming darker brown 

 toward the snout ; light brown on the side of the head in front 

 of the eye. Lower half of the upper labials whitish, upper half 

 bluish. Under part of head whitish. 



This species is the most abundant in the state. It is more 

 numerous in the central, middle and eastern parts than in the 

 western. Its abundance is probably due to its ability to escape 

 danger by its rapid movements and to its color blending well 

 with both soil and shrubbery. 



The Racer has been known to follow persons for a short dis- 

 tance, but it will fiee if one advances toward it. There is a 

 popular belief that it twines itself about persons' legs when at- 

 tacking them, but the truth is that it never attacks unless one 

 handles it. When captured the larger snakes strike vigorously. 

 Frequently they remain in captivity for months without becom- 

 ing tame. The young are very pugnacious. Constrictor, like 

 many other harmless snakes, has the habit of vibrating its tail 

 rapidly when excited. The tail's vibrating among dry leaves 

 makes a whirring noise much like the rattling of a Rattlesnake. 

 It feeds upon small mammals, toads, birds, eggs, insects, and 

 other snakes. Verril writes of a constrictor's vomiting up a 

 Copperhead and a toad. One that I had in this laboratory 

 swallowed a small Garter Snake. Insects are probably its prin- 

 cipal food. I have found as many as eight crickets in the stom- 

 ach of a small Racer. Their habit of eating insects explains 



