THE SNAKES OF THE MARITIME PROVINCES OF CANADA. 19 



distinct brick red spots alternating with the ordinary dark ones, 

 reminding one of E- sirtalis pnrietalis Say of the central region, 

 and E. s. concinna Hallowell of the Pacific slope. Then again 

 there is a wide difference in the character of the vertebral stripe, 

 from an almost entire absence as in E. s. nrdinit% Linnaeus, to a 

 ver}^ conspicuous greenish-yellow one distinctive of ■pnrietalis. 

 The colour of the dorsal surface and the size and pattern 

 of spots on the ventral scutes take a wide range, and may be 

 said to typify half a dozen or more species in this respect. 



Head distinct; neck moderately constricted. Superior labials 

 seven. Inferior labials about ten, a few having less, due perhaps 

 to fusion. Gastrosteges one hundred and forty-six; urosteges 

 fifty-eight. This species averages one hundred and fifty and 

 sixty-eight in the Eastern United States, Anal plate undivided. 



Colour: superior surface varying from light olivaceous to 

 dark brown; inferior surface from yellowish- white to pale blue, 

 often orange on the chin, throat, and anterior half of the belly. 

 Three series of darker spots on each side of the dorsal surface, 

 the spots ot the upper one often coalescing with those on the 

 opposite side of the vertebral line. Spaces between those of the 

 lowest series often brick red. A vertebral stripe, more or less 

 distinct, and varying from greenish-yellow to pale brown or 

 gray — often wanting — extends from the nape to opposite the 

 anus; sometimes visible on the tail. There is a pale lateral 

 stripe of the colour of the abdomen confined to the second and 

 third exterior rows of dorsal scales. In some of the lighter col- 

 oured individuals it is pale orange, when the same colour marks 

 the cheek.s, chin, and throat. The superior labials of the darker 

 forniis are sometimes clouded, at others bordered with black- 

 recalling E. s. ordinnta. This feature seems constant in speci- 

 mens from Nova Scotia. The round black spot near the extrem- 

 ity of each ventral scute occurs very regularly in some; in others 

 it may be almost wanting, or fused with the usually darkened 

 end of the scute. The small pale-brown parietal marking is fair- 

 ly constant. Length seldom exceeding thirty inches. 



The following description of a number of Garters collected 

 heie may prove of some interest to the reader, for it illustrates 



