COPEIA 7 



Chrysemys picta (Schneider). "Skilpot." Common. 

 Terrapene Carolina (Linnaeus). "Dry land terra- 

 pin." Common. 



E. R. Dunn, 

 Philadelphia, Pa. 



NEW COLOR VARIATION OF STORERIA 

 OCCIPITOMACULATA 



During- the first week in August, 1914, I collected 

 a small black-colored snake near Cammal, Pa. It at- 

 tracted my attention, as I was not familiar with the 

 coloration that was presented. Examination re- 

 vealed a peculiar phase of the red-bellied snake, of 

 which I was unable to find a description in any of 

 the standard works upon reptiles. Through the 

 courtesy of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 

 Philadelphia, I was permitted to examine the varie- 

 ties of red-bellied snakes in their collection. In look- 

 ing over the specimens I found one that simulated 

 mine. This reptile was collected at Johnsonburg, 

 Elk County, Pa., by Cope. He described it as being 

 a very dark brown, with the dorsal band obscure, and 

 the under surfaces black. The throat and chin were 

 whitish, and the black darkest in a row of spots on 

 each side of a dozen anterior gastrosteges. The rep- 

 tile I found measured 24 cm., was distinctly black on 

 the dorsal and ventral surfaces, the throat and chin 

 white, sprinkled with small black spots; the stripes 

 on the sides could only be detected by having the 

 light strike the reptile in a certain manner. When 

 the two reptiles were placed side by side, Cope's spec- 

 imen was lighter in color, both on the dorsal and ven- 

 tral surfaces; the stripes on Cope's specimen could 

 readily be seen as compared with the reptile under 

 discussion. 



R. D. Spencer, 

 Philadelphia, Pa. 



