REPTILES. 83 



STOKEKIA DEKAYI (Holbrook). 



DEKAY SNAKE. 



Tfopidonotiis clekayi, Holbrook, 1842, IV, 54. 



Storeria delcayi, Smith, 1879, 7. Notestein, 1905, 114. Clark, 1902, 

 194; 1905, 109. Baird and Girard, 1853, 135-136. Miles, 

 1861, 233. Cope, 1900, 1002-1003. Ruthven, 1911a, 266-267. 



Description: A small snake seldom attaining a length of more 

 than a foot. Bod}^ tapering to'ward the neck and tail. Head small 

 but distinct. Cephalic plates normal; rostral normal. Sides of 

 head rather high. Loreal absent, being fused with the posterior 

 nasal; nostril situated laterall}^ 



Dorsal scale rows, except very rarel} , 17 throughout the entire 

 length of the body. Supralabials 7 ; infralabials 7, very rarely 8 or 

 9. Oculars generally 1-2; rarely the postoculars are 3 in number, 

 and occasionally fused into one scale, preoculars very rarely 2. 

 Ventrals 120-137, subcaudals 44-57, anal plate divided. 



The ground color above varying from dark chestnut or dark slate 

 to pale brownish yellow, the lighter shades most common. On the 

 vertebral line (occupying the median three and the halves of the 

 adjacent rows) a pale yellow or greenish band, which is generally 

 more distinct in the specimens in which the ground color is light. 

 This band margined on either side by a darker shade of the ground 

 color (in individuals light enough to show it), and by a row of 

 more or less prominent black spots that may be distinct and en- 

 croach on the pale band even to the extent of fusing across it or 

 may be so small as to be only indicated or entirely absent. The 

 dorsal row is one of three of alternating spots that may be present 

 on either side, all of these usuallv bein": absent or onlv indicated 

 on the scales, except more often on the anterior part of the body. 

 On the neck the spots are fused into a transverse spot on either side, 

 these being irregular in shape and varying in size. Top of head 

 usually dark brownish yellow, densely speckled with black. A heavy 

 blotch of black pigment below the e^e, and frequently a black bar 

 crossing the posterior part of the first temporal and the upper and 

 lower labials. Other head markings variable. Belly pale, with a 

 row of very small spots on either side (one on each end of a scute) 

 that are frequently absent and often irregular (several small ones 

 on each scute). Newly born individuals are said to be dark ^Y'Ay 

 or black ^ above, with a ring of grayish-white around the neck. 

 ^'Their dark hue changes rapidly and during the warm months sue- 



