90 HERPETOLOGY OF MICHIGAN. 



From these records it seems ])robable that the species is to be 

 found commonly, if not almost exclusively, in the more sandy parts 

 of the state. 



ELAPHE OBSOLETUS (Say). 



PILOT SNAKE. 

 (PI. VI.) 



Coluber ohsoletus. Sager, 1839, 301. Smith, 1879, 6. Clark, 1902, 



192; 1903, 172. 

 Coluher spiloides (Part?), Cope, 1900, 841-813. 

 Callopeltis ohsoletus, Clark, 1905, 110. 

 Colu'ber ohsoletus obsoletiis, Notestein, 1905, 117. 



Description: A large snake attaining a length of from fiye and 

 one-half to eight feet. Head moderately swollen through the jaws, 

 and tapering gradually to the end of the snout, so that it is decid-' 

 edly elongate; high on the sides; the muzzle usually straight on the 

 sides, occasionally slightly concave in the preocular region. Eye 

 moderate. Nostril lateral. Cephalic plates normal, the frontal 

 plate generally longer than broad. 



In the few specimens examined the dorsal scale rows are 25-23- 

 21-19-17 and 23-25-21-19-17.* Supralabials 8, occasionally 7; in- 

 fralabials 11; occasionally 12. Oculars 1-2. Temporals 2-3, occa- 

 sionally 2-2. Yentrals 231-236; subcaudals 79 and 80. Anal plate 

 divided. 



A YQYj good description of the snake is that given by Hay (1892a, 

 501) : "In this, the general color is a black with a bluish tinge, or 

 a pitch-black, most pronounced on the posterior portion of the 

 body. The anterior half ma^^ be lighter, and show evidences of 

 blotches. The whole of this part may have a decided tinge of red, 

 this being due to the color of the skin between the scales ; vet the 

 red may run up on the bases of the scales. Occasionally the spots 

 of the upper surface are of a decided red. The dorsal blotches ex- 

 tend down on the sides to about the 7th row of scales, counting the 

 lowest. They are about G inches long, and are separated by the 

 length of two scales. Alternating with these is another series which 

 extend from the 3rd to the 7th row of scales. These spots are all 

 feebly indicated by the sulphur yellow of the skin between the 

 scales; and often the color is almost uniform black. There are 

 some scales with yellow or white edges. Lower jaw and throat 

 white. The bellv is of a slate-color or black on the hinder half; 



*The number of scale rows in the series is usually given as 27. so that the above formulas 

 are probably exceeded in some Michigan specimens. Needless to say this summary of the 

 number of scales in the different series, based as it is on a small number of specimens, is only 

 a very general one. 



