40. THAMNOPHIS 823 
line usually is wider than in 7’. o. elegans and there often 
is more or less red in the coloration, which, so far as we 
know, is not the case in the mountain snakes. 
T. o. atratus differs from T. 0. ordinoides in being of 
larger size and in usually having a greater number of upper 
and lower labials, scale-rows, and gastrosteges. The colora- 
tion also is different, although a wide range in pattern and 
shade is to be seen in both subspecies, and both often show 
some red coloring. 
As regards scale characters, T. 0. atratus may be con- 
sidered intermediate between T. 0. ordinoides and T. o. 
elegans. 
The two specimens from Siskiyou, Jackson County, Ore- 
gon, and two others from Anderson, Shasta County, Cali- 
fornia, probably might best be regarded as showing inter- 
gradation between this coast form and the T. o. elegans of 
the Sierra Nevada, since they all have 21 rows of scales 
and somewhat intermediate coloration. The material is 
inadequate to make this conclusion a positive one, but it is 
in this region that one would expect to find these subspecies 
merging. 
Certain specimens from Coos County, Oregon, seem 
to show intergradation between this subspecies and T.. ordi- 
noides biscutatus. Others from Requa and Crescent City 
in Del Norte County, California, are intermediate between 
T. ordinoides ordinoides and T. ordinoides atratus. 
Habits——This small snake usually is found near water 
but seldom in it. On cool days it may be discovered under 
stones or wood. It is unobtrusive and, aside from its malo- 
dorous excretion, quite inoffensive. As in other members 
of the genus, the young are born fully developed. Their 
number varies greatly in different broods. The food of 
this subspecies probably consists in the main of small frogs, 
toads, fish, tadpoles, slugs, small mammals, and an occa- 
