REPTILES. 93 



ELAPHE VULPINUS (Baird and Girard). 



FOX snakp:. 

 (PI. IX a.) 



Coluber vulpinus, Notesleiii, 1905, 117. Smith, 1S71), (>. Cope, 1900, 



831-833. 

 Scotophis vmlpinus, Baird and Girard, 1853, 75-7(). Miles, 1861, 233. 

 Callopeltis vulpinus, Clark, 1905, 110. 

 Elaphe milpimis, Ruthven, 1909a, 110; 1910, 59; 1911a, 266. 



Description: A robust snake, attaining a length of about four or 

 five feet. Head rather flat, broad and rather short, being usually 

 decidedly shorter and broader than in E. ohsoletiis. Sides of head 

 rather low, slightl}^ concave in preocular region. Eye moderate, 

 pupil round. Nostrils lateral. Cephalic plates normal; the frontal 

 generally nearly or quite as wide as long. 



Dorsal scale rows 27-25-23-21, 25-27-25-23-21, 25-23-21; the first 3 

 or 4 smooth, the others weakly keeled. Supralabials 8, occasionally 

 7 or 9; infralabials 9, 10 or 11. Oculars usually 1-2. Yentrals 200- 

 212 (196-217, Cope, 1900, 832) ; subcaudals 50-65 (68, Cope, 1900, 

 832). Anal plate divided. 



Ground color above yellowish or light brown. A median series of 

 dark chocolate brown blotches with inconspicuous black margins 

 and separated by two scales, the first one or two anterior either 

 entirely or partly divided on the median line. A^ertebral spots usu- 

 ally descending to the fifth or sixth rows on the sides, the lower 

 margin being produced in an obtuse angle. A row of smaller 

 blotches alternating with those of the vertebral series on the sides 

 between the second and seventh rows inclusive. These are also 

 margined with black, and in turn alternate with another series of 

 black blotches that involve the edge of the ventrals and the first 

 one or two rows of dorsal scales. Belly pale yellowish with alter- 

 nating series of quadrate black blotches of which the row involving 

 the first one or two dorsal rows is the outer. Head light brown, 

 with a dusky band across the suture of the prefrontals with the 

 frontal and supraoculars, and another from the eye to the angle of 

 the mouth. 



Habits and Habitat: Verv little is known of the habits or habitat 

 of the fox snake. In common with some other snakes, it will, when 

 excited, frequently vibrate the tail rapidly like the rattle snakes. 

 As the tail terminates in a horny point, a distinct buzzing sound is 

 produced. It is entirel}- harmless, and not usually pugnacious. 



