ZOOLOGY. 297 



or brownish yellow, (fading in alcohol.) A series of irregular vertical bars on the sides from the third to sixth rows, con 

 fluent with the lateral stripe, which covers the second and third rows. Abdomen and first dorsal rows, slate color, bluish, or 

 greenish. 



Var. a. Without the lateral spots, the space being black like the back. 



/?. Entirely black, the stripes being so narrow as to be alm.ist obsolete ; specimens showing every degree of these variations. 

 Sides of head usually more or less mottled with brown and green, the most so in the largest specimens. 



Obtained in all the western portions of the Territory, usually in or near the forests. The 

 commonest species, but more rare, east of the Cascade range. C. 



The variety with red spots was not found by me near Puget Sound, though common at the 

 Dalles and Vancouver. 



The colors of my specimen, wlten living, were as follows: In the spring, dorsal scales of a very 

 dark invisible green, (almost black.) Dorsal and lateral stripes pea green. Chin ichiie. Belly 

 greenish white anteriorly, becoming posteriorly bluish white and bluish slate, and the under 

 surface of tail &quot;blue black.&quot; 



In midsummer the colors remain the same, except that they are darker, (deeper.) This 

 species exists in great abundance near Steilacoom and Nisqually. They are found on the 

 gravelly prairies and in the vicinity of the numerous small lakes of this section of country. 

 About the first of April they begin to come out of winter quarters, and can be seen at mid 

 day sunning themselves near small clumps of scrub-oak bushes, to which they retreat when 

 alarmed. A little later they are found in couples or in small companies. Although they are 

 rarely ever found more than one-eighth of a mile from water, they are, nevertheless, still more 

 anxious to be close to it as the season advances. They will then (in May and June) be found 

 lying close to the water, on the lake shores in the grass, and among the sedge of the marshes, 

 and even upon small bog islands, as much as fifty yards from the shore. 



In summer, like other members of this genus, they are found lying in small pools, and in the 

 water at the edges of the lakes, during the heat of the day. They appear to be a harmless, 

 lazy species, and, as above stated, exceedingly fond of the water. 



They rarely exceed twenty-five inches. S. 



EUTAINIA LEPTOCEPHALA, Baird&Girard. 



The Small-headed Striped Snake. 



Eutainia leptocephala,E.SiG.Ca.t. N.Amer. Serpents, 1853, p. 29. GIRARD, Expl. Exped. Herpetology, p. 151, pi. 



XIII, fig. 7-13. 



g p . CH. Body rather long and slender. Head small, narrow, and flattened; not much larger than neck. Dorsal rows 19, 

 the two exterior rows larger, the outer not carinated. Scales on most of the tail not carinated. Labials narrow ; 7 above, 

 fifth and sixth largest. Above, light olive brown, or darker, with about 130 small brown spots in two series on each side the 

 vertebral line, occuring on alternate scales, sometimes wanting. Vertebral stripe faint, on a single row of scale ; lateral stripe 

 in young specimens partially apparent anteriorly. A blackish stripe from the post-orbital back to the angle of the mouth, 

 sometimes touching the labials. 



Found in all the western portion of the Territory. C. 



Found apparently in all parts of the Territory and in Oregon, specimens having been 

 obtained in the St. Mary s valley by Lieutenant Mullan, and on the Snake river, near Fort Boise, 

 by myself. S. 



EUTAINIA VAGRANS, Baird & Girard. 



The Large-headed Striped Snake. 



Eutainia vagrans, B. & G. Cat. N. Amer. Herpetol. I, 1853, p. 35. GIRARD, Expl. Exped. Herpetol. p. 154, plate 

 xiv. figs. 5-10. (See plate XVII, Reptiles, Beckwith s P. R. R. Report, vol. X.) 



38 Q 



