COPEIA 45 



Prionotus strigatus. November 4, 1913 (Coney 

 Island). One young. 



Rissola marginata. October 30, 1913 (Coney 

 Island). 



Merluccius bilinearis. December 18, 1913 (Con- 

 ey Island) . 



Pollachius virens. A young specimen about six 

 inches long, City Island, July 15, 1915, brought to 

 the Museum by Messrs. C. & O. Falkenbach. 



Urophycis regius. December 18, 1913 (Coney 

 Island). 



Lophopsetta metadata. December 18, 1913 

 (Coney Island). 



W. H. WlEGMANN, 



J. T. Nichols, 



New York City. 



AN ENCOUNTER BETWEEN A BLUE 



RACER SNAKE, BASC ANION FLAG- 



ELLIFOBMIS AND A 'GOPHER/' 



A gopher of a species unidentified was running 

 through the grass near my garden gate, and a Blue 

 racer snake was loosely coiled up in the road, appar- 

 ently on the watch, but not seeing me. As soon as 

 the gopher became aware of the presence of the 

 snake it darted forward, and commenced circling 

 about the snake and from time to time running in 

 and nipping at the body of the snake, and jumping 

 back. The snake turned its head about constantly, 

 watching the gopher, and twice it made ineffectual 

 strikes at the running animal, with its open mouth. 

 After some minutes of this kind of thing the gopher 

 ran for its burrow and the snake thrust out its tongue 

 and started towards the house, and being headed off, 

 climbed up a small juniper tree, from which it was 

 dislodged, and allowed to escape, which it did with 

 incredible speed. I witnessed no evidence whatever 

 of the power which it is popularly believed snakes 



