71* 13. COLUBRID^ 



pleted. There are four postoculars, where but three nor- 

 mally occur. The body scales, save for the interpolation of 

 an incomplete gastrostege which extends but half way across 

 the body, are quite typical and numerically are within the 

 limits given by Cope. 



"This snake was kept in captivity for more than a year, 

 confined in a glass terrarium with a screened top. It was 

 provided with water and at intervals small white mice were 

 fed to itj one of these bit the snake on the head and pro- 

 duced a "scalp" wound. One morning after the animal 

 had been in captivity for about four months the skin on the 

 preorbital portion of its head was seen to be free from the 

 scales beneath. Some straw was placed in the terrarium 

 and within a few minutes the snake was working rapidly 

 back and forth through the straw, freeing itself from the 

 old skin. At the place where its body was just being freed 

 from the skin, violent muscular expansions and contractions 

 were being executed. The surface of the snake's body and 

 the outside, originally the inside, of the sluffed skin were 

 noticeably moist as a result of the secretion which had been 

 poured out to assist in moulting. For several weeks previous 

 to moulting the snake had been quite sluggish, remaining 

 coiled in one corner of the terrarium and refusing food. 

 During this time its eye became gradually dulled and the 

 skin was seen to be free from the body in several places. 

 Immediately after the moult the animal became very active." 



