VARIATIONS OF GARTEK-SNAKES. 



89 



The only other form which has been confused with hutleri is the 

 Eutaenia hracJiystoma of Cope. BracJiystoma was described as dis- 

 tinct on the basis of the small number of ventrals and superior and 

 inferior labial plates in the type, and although the reduction in speci- 

 mens fi'om Pennsjivania is considerable, I have already given my 

 opinion (Stone, 1906, 165) that they represent dwarfed specimens of 

 hutleri. I have also shown (1904) that the specimens referred to 

 hrachystoma by Clark (1903, 83-87) are t^^pical hutleri. 



Habits and habitat relations. — It is not to be expected from the 

 histor}" of this form that much would have been recorded on its habits. 



Fig. 29.— Habitat of Thamnophis butleki. Creek at Lima Center, Washtenaw County, Michi- 

 gan. T. bvtleri is found commonly on the banks of such streams in southern Michigan. 



when so little has been ascertained of the habitat relations of forms 

 wliich have been well known for fifty years or more. In southern 

 Mchigan I have only taken it in the immediate vicinity of water, 

 either about the margin of swampy places or on the banks of streams 

 (fig. 29). This may be a coincidence, but it is in accord vnih all of 

 the specimens collected throughout the range wliich have habitat 

 data. I have found them most frequently by overturning boards, 

 etc., in such places, although they are also found crawling about in 

 the long grass and herbage. 



