REPTILES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 223 



One specimen before me. has 154 plates, and 75 scales ; a sec- 

 ond specimen has 146 plates, and 63 scales. 



This species feeds upon frogs and toads, and is frequently 

 found enormously distended by having swallowed one of a 

 very large size. 



C. ordinatus. Lin. The little brown Snake. 



Shaw's Gen. Zoology, vol. iii. pt. 2. p. 497. 

 Harlairs Med. and Phys. Kes. p. 113. 



This is also quite a common species with us, growing to the 

 length of two feet. The color above, is a browish ash, with a 

 broad, lighter ash-colored longitudinal band upon the dorsal 

 ridge, running the whole length of the animal ; on each side of 

 this dorsal band, a row of small dark brown spots. Body be- 

 neatly, fawn-colored ; of a darker tint upon the sides. A row 

 of very minute black dots upon the outer edge of the abdomi- 

 nal plates. Scales small, carinated; a row of scales larger 

 than the rest, upon the sides joining the abdominal plates. 

 Head very small, flattened above ; with ten scales upon its 

 top, the two upon the occiput, and that directly in the middle 

 of the top of the head, the largest, and black ; the others are 

 quite small, and of the color of the back ; these scales are ar- 

 ranged as follows : Two triangular ones upon the occiput j a 

 third, hexagonal in its form, in front of them; its posterior portion, 

 between the anterior inner portion of the former, making 

 the top of the head ; on each side of this, protecting the top of 

 the eye, a small oblong scale, rounded upon its outer edge ; in 

 front of these, immediately back of the eye, two pairs of 

 quadrangular scales ; the posterior, larger. A single large scale 

 forms the snout. Besides these scales, three are seen in front 

 of the eye, on the side of the head ; and quite a large scale 

 back of the posterior angle of the eye, separated from it by 

 two very minute scales only. Upon the margin of the upper 

 jaw, fourteen scales ; upon the edge of the lower jaw, twelve, 

 besides the tip. An oblique black band passes downwards 



