AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES. 175 
most I have seen were smaller. Dr. Abbott found it at Trenton 
in about equal numbers in comparison with Thamnophis sirtalts, 
a species which it also resembles in habits. Its food he found 
consisted largely of grasshoppers, crickets, etc. 
Coluber saurita Harlan, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., V, pt. 
2, 1827, p. 352.—Harlan, Med. Phys. Res., 1835, p. 115 (copied). 
—Holbrook, N. Am. Herp., IV, 1840, p. 87, Pl. 16 (ref. infers). 
Leptophis sauritus Holbrook, 1. c., Ed. 2, IV, 1842, p. 21. 
Eutenia saurita Abbott, Nat. Rambles, 1885, p. 476. 
Thamnophis saurita Ditmars, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y., 1895-96, 
No. 8, p. 18. . 
Thamnophis sauritus Stone, Am. Nat., XL, 1906, p. 164. 
Tropidonotus leberis Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 802. 
Thamnophis sirtalis (Linnzus). 
PLATE 44. 
Garter Snake. Snake. Common Snake. Striped Snake. 
Head somewhat distinct from body, sides a little swollen pos- 
teriorly, and upper and lower surfaces more or less depressed. 
Snout rather obtusely convex, sides of head broadly converging 
anteriorly so that when viewed above it is ovoid. Snout more 
or less flattened above, its length about 24 its width, and its sides 
rather steeply vertical. It projects but a little beyond mandible. 
Eye moderately large, barely touching upper profile, and placed 
about midway in gape of mouth over commisure of fourth and 
fifth upper labials. Frontal plate a little elongated in a pentagon, 
anterior margin slightly convex, posteriorly broadly angular, 
sides slightly concave, and entire area but little longer than 
broad. Internasals rather broad, obtuse, and rather small. Pre- 
frontals much larger than internasals, bending down over side 
of snout to loreal, and broad. Parietals largest of plates, broad 
in front, and narrowly constricted posteriorly where there is a 
slight notch medianly. Rostral moderate, triangular in shape. 
Nostril rather large, placed in commisure between 2 nasals, just 
below that of internasal above. Loreal rather small. Supraocular 
