790 13. COLUBRID 
The following facts also will be of aid in the determi- 
nation of specimens: 
1. Any red in the coloration indicates that the speci- 
men belongs to one of the subspecies of J. sirtalis or to 
T. 0. ordinoides or T. 0. atratus. 
2. Red on the upper surface of the head seems to be 
peculiar to the subspecies of 7’. sirtalis. 
3. Red on the belly or in the dorsal line is distinctive 
of T. 0. ordinoides and T. o. atratus, or rarely T. s. 
parietalis. 
4. The members of the sirtalis group have a much 
larger eye and longer posterior genials than are found in 
the subspecies of 7’. ordinoides, with the possible exception 
of T. 0. hammondii. 
5. The members of the sirtalis group practically 
always have 19—19—17 rows of scales and a single 
preocular. 
6. In the subspecies of 7’. ordinoides 21 rows of scales 
are almost always present, except in JT. 0. ordinoides and 
T. 0. atratus. 
7. Two preoculars are most frequent in 7. angustiros- 
tris and T. o. biscutatus, but are frequent in T. 0. ham- 
mondii and T. o. ordinoides. 
8. Absence of the dorsal stripe occurs only in four of 
the subspecies of 7. ordinoides—viz., hammondii, couchii, 
ordinoides, and atratus,—and is usual in only hammondii 
and couchii. 
The garter-snakes are the most abundant of our ser- 
pents. Where conditions are especially favorable they may 
be found in vast numbers. They are ovoviviparous, and a 
single female has been known to produce as many as 78 
to 80 young or as few as four at a time. Mating occurs 
in the spring. The young are born in July, August or Sep- 
tember. They are extruded singly, each coiled within its 
