32 University of Michigan 



Thamnophis ordinoides elegans (Baird and Girard). 



Twenty-eight specimens taken in the Humboldt Valley, 

 along Maggie Creek from the Humboldt to Maggie Canyon, 

 and in the lower part of the valley of Annie Creek. Thirty 

 specimens were born in captivity. 



The specimens obtained are typical T. ordinoides elegans 

 (==rjagrans Auct.) as understood by the senior writer. The 

 dorsal scale rows are mostly 21-19-17, occasionally 19-21-19- 

 17; the supralabials are 8 except in one specimen which has 7; 

 the inferior labials are usually 10, occasionally 9 or 11; the 

 ventrals vary from 169 (male) to 181 (female) ; and the sub- 

 caudals vary from 73 (female) to 89 (male). It is of interest 

 to note that the preoculars, while usually single (on one side 

 in six and on both sides in twenty in a series of twenty-seven), 

 are occasionally divided, the dominant condition in northern 

 California, east central Oregon and Washington, and probably 

 in northeastern Nevada. 



The gartersnake is common in the region studied but only 

 along the larger permanent streams. It is abundant along the 

 Humboldt and in the lower parts of the Annie and Maggie 

 Creeks and occurs in smaller numbers along the upper part of 

 the Maggie, at least to Maggie Canyon, but we did not find 

 it along the Susan or any of the small streams in the Cortez 

 Mountains. The species is quite aquatic in its habits. It is 

 generally found in the immediate vicinity of water, and often 

 in the streams or ponds. From the stomachs examined it 

 would appear that most of the food is secured in the water. 

 One specimen had eaten a small toad, and five others had cap- 

 tured fish and tadpoles. It is a voracious feeder. The 

 stomach of one individual contained eight large tadpoles, that 

 of another five fish, and one had eaten a fish 141 mm. in length 



