Number 142 July 9. 1923 



OCCASIONAL PAPERS OF THE MUSEUM OF 

 ZOOLOGY 



UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 



Ann Arbor, Michigan Published by the University 



COMMENTS ON RING-NECK SNAKES (GENUS 



DL^DOPHIS), WITH DIAGNOSES OF 



NEW FORMS^ 



By Frank N. Blanchard 



In the course of a study of the ring-neck snakes, genus 

 Diadophis. it has been found necessary to alter considerably 

 the present systematic arrangement of the western forms and 

 to propose several new names for the designation of subspecies 

 hitherto unrecognized. 



Diadophis rcgalis rcgalis ( Baird and Girard) 



1853 Diadophis rcgalis Baird and Girard, Cat. N. Amer. Rept., pt. i, 

 Serpents, p. 115. 



A studv of all the specimens and records of ring-neck snakes 

 from western Texas to Arizona makes it appear highly prob- 

 able that two races inhabit this territory, an eastern form, es- 

 sentiallv without the neck ring, ranging to southeastern Ari- 



1 Contribution from the Department of Zoology of the Univer--,ity 

 of Michigan. 



