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sisting chiefly of crickets, grasshoppers, and other noxious insects. It is 
also fond of earthworms and slugs. 
It reaches a length of only a foot or less. Its color is a grayish 
brown, with a lighter band or line along the back, on each side of which 
is a dotted line; there is also a dark patch on each side of the occiput. 
and the under parts are grayish. Scales in 17 rows; ventral plates 120-138. 
2. Thamnophis prorima (Say). 
RIBBON SNAKE. 
This species is found from Wisconsin to Mexico. At Maxinkuckee it is 
one of the rarer shakes. The only example (No. 02779, or 33545, U. 8. 
Nat. Mus.) in our collection was secured September 21, 1800, near Lost 
Lake, southwest of Mr. Green’s house. Another was seen nine days later 
south of the lake. 
It is a very slender, graceful snake, It is probably not rare in the 
weedly patches west of Culver, particularly about old, drained lake-beds 
where the ground is still wet and where there are occasional pools. In 
the spring of 1901, four were seen, two on April 9 at the drained lake 
west of Culver, one April 30 at Culver Creek, and one May 20 in Hawk’s 
marsh. 
In habits this species does not differ greatly from other garter snakes. 
It delights in marshy situations and is not averse to an occasional short 
stay in the water. Its food consists chiefly of small frogs, toads and 
insects, with an occasional small fish. 
This shake may be known by the following characters: 
Lateral stripe on third and fourth rows of scales; scales in 19 rows, 
little or not at all spotted; color chocolate brown, with three yellow stripes; 
light brown below lateral stripes; ventral plates 150 to 160; tail about one- 
third the total length which rarely exceeds thirty-six inches. 
3. Thamnophis sirtalis (Linneeus). 
COMMON GARTER SNAKE. 
This is one of the most variable as well as one of the most widely 
distributed of all snakes. It or its subspecies may be found in nearly all 
parts of the United States, and it is by far the most abundant snake about 
Lake Maxinkuckee; it is probably more numerous than all other species 
combined. 
It may be found in all sorts of situations; in cultivated fields and 
