THE SNAKES OF THE LAKE MAXINKUCKEE REGION.* 
BARTON WARREN EXVERMANN AND HOWARD WALTON CLARK. 
The total number of species of shakes known from the vicinity of 
Lake Maxinkuckee is ten. This number is not large; doubtless more 
thorough field work would increase the number slightly. While the species 
are not numerous, several of them are fairly abundant in individuals. 
This is particularly true of the common garter snake and the water 
snake. ‘The former of these may be seen in suitable situations on almost 
any warm day from early spring until late in the fall, while the latter is 
almost equally frequent from the middle of summer to early fall about the 
borders of Lost Lake and along the Outlet. 
Nearly all, perhaps all, of the species bear some relation to the life 
of the lake, some of them feeding on fishes when opportunity offers, and 
all feeding upon frogs. Only one of the species of snakes known from 
the Lake Maxinkuckee region is poisonous; that is the little prairie 
rattlesnake which, fortunately, is not abundant. 
SPECIES OF SNAKHS. 
1. Storeria dekayi (Holbrook). 
DE KAY'S SNAKE. 
This pretty littl snake occurs sparingly throughout the eastern 
United States and westward to Colorado and Wyoming. At Lake Maxin- 
kuckee it is one of the rarest species. Our collection from about the lake 
contains only three examples, viz., one, No. 33529, U. S. National Museum, 
obtained October 8, 1900, and two others taken on October 17, 1907, one 
near the Outlet, the other on the east side of the lake. 
This species is known also as Brown Snake and Ground Snake, the 
former because of the color, the latter because it is so frequently found 
burrowed in the ground. 
It is not only a harmless little snake, but it is useful, its diet con- 
*Published by permission of Hon. Hugh M. Smith, U. S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 
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