The Striped Snakes Oarter Snakes 



of most garter snakes the earthworm. A brood of fourteen 

 of these serpents born in captivity, was successfully reared. 

 These specimens lived for more than eight years and attained 

 a considerably larger size than the parent, which survived them 

 all and remained vigorous for twelve years, in a plain box with a 

 glass front, but two feet long and a foot wide. 



Of the many species and varieties of the striped snakes, 

 the writer has always felt a particular liking for this handsome 

 form. The bold, "checker-board" pattern of the body, the 

 yellow crescents on each side of the head, and the fiery red tongue 

 with its black tips, are characters that render the reptile striking 

 and attractive. 



The variety couchii: Like the form or variety biscutata, 

 in its close relationship to the variety vagrans, Couch's Garter 

 Snake is very closely related to marciana, from which it differs in 

 the absence of the square, black spots between the stripes. The 

 ground colour is pale, or dark brown, or olive. The stripes 

 resemble those of marciana, while the abdomen, with different 

 individuals, varies from yellow to black. The relationship to 

 marciana is seen in the markings of the head. The upper lip 

 plates near the eye have wide, dark borders, while upon the 

 temple will be seen the pale crescent of the allied form, though 

 this is less pronounced. In dimensions, Couch's Garter Snake 

 is rather smaller than marciana. It occurs in Arizona and 

 California. 



THE BROWN GARTER SNAKE 



Eutcenia eques, (Reuss.) 



This species is characterised by its wide bead, which presents 

 a swollen appearance behind the eyes. Also, by the very nar- 

 row central stripe, which for its greater length, is but the width 

 of a single scale. The scales of the body are in 19 rows. The 

 species is most nearly allied to the common garter snake, E. 

 sirtalis. 



Colouration. The usual colour is reddish brown, with a 

 distinct but very narrow stripe of cream yellow on the back, 

 and a stripe of similar colour on the sides, covering portions of 

 the second and third rows of scales. The central stripe begins 

 in pointed fashion behind the head, whence it suddenly widens on 

 the neck, covering three rows of scales; behind this widened 



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