Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 581 



LIST OF SPECIES 

 1. dekay's snake 



STORERIA DEKAYI (Hulbrook) 



This little snake occurs sparingly throughout the eastern United 

 States and westward to Colorado and Wyoming. At Lake INIax- 

 inkuckee it is one of the rarest species, only five examples having 

 been seen by us during the entire period of our observations about 

 the lake. One was obtained October 8, 1900, two were taken in 

 1906, and two October 17, 1907. 



This is a small species, reaching a length of only a foot or less. 

 Color, grayish brown, with a clay-colored dorsal band bordered by 

 dotted lines ; a dark patch on each side of the occiput ; under parts 

 grayish. Scales in 17 rows; ventral plates 120-138. 



2. RIBAND SNAKE 



THAMNOPHIS PROXIMUS (Say) 



This species is found from Wisconsin to Mexico. At Maxin- 

 kuckee it is one of the rarer snakes. The only example in our col- 

 lection was secured September 21, 1900, near Lost Lake, southwest 

 of Mr. Green's house. 



It is a very slender, graceful snake. It is probably not rare in 

 the weedy patches west of Culver, particularly about old drained 

 lake beds where the ground is still wet and where there are occa- 

 sional pools. In the spring of 1901 four were seen by Mr. Clark, 

 two on April 9 west of Culver, one April 30 at Culver Inlet, and 

 one May 20 in Hawk's marsh. 



In habits this species does not differ greatly from other garter 

 snakes. It delights in marshy situations and is not averse to an 

 occasional short stay in the water. Its food consists chiefly of 

 small frogs, toads, and insects, with an occasional small fish. 



This snake may be known by the following characters : 



Lateral stripe on third and fourth rows of scales ; scales in 19 

 rows, little or not at all spotted ; color chocolate brown, with three 

 yellow stripes ; light brown below lateral stripes ; ventral plates 

 150 to 160 ; tail about one-third the total length, which rarely ex- 

 ceeds 36 inches. 



3. COMMON GARTER SNAKE 



THAMNOPHIS SIRTALIS (Linnaeus) 



This is the most variable as well as the most widely distributed 

 of all the garter snakes. It and its subspecies are found in nearly 



