The Striped Snakes Garter Snakes 



The distinct varieties of the Common Garter Snake may 

 be summed up in the following key: 



General. 19 rows of scales counted in an oblique row 

 around the body (one variety with 17 rows). Body 

 rather stout and with three stripes (except in one 

 variety with which the stripes are lacking) the side stripe 

 on the second and third rows of scales. 



General Habitat. Trie most extensive of any 

 species of this genus comprising southern 

 Canada, the entire United States and Mexico. 



I. Three pale stripes on a darker ground. Scales in IQ rows. 

 Three yellowish or greenish stripes; ground-colour Drown, 



green, olive or black. Usually two rows of black 

 spots between the stripes. No red on sides. 



COMMON GARTER SNAKE, E. sirtolis, typical form, 

 Distribution. Southern Canada and the United 



States, east of the plains. 



Three yellowish or greenish stripes; ground-colour brown, 

 green or black. Upper row of spots between stripes 

 fused into a band; lower row narrowly separated. 

 Skin on the side, bright, brick red. 



RED-BARRED GARTER SNAKE, E. sirtalis -parietalis. 

 Distribution. The plains to Texas; westward to 

 California and Washington. Occasionally, though 

 very rarely, found in the Eastern States. 

 Three narrow broken greenish stripes on a jet black 

 ground; abdomen dark green or slaty. 



PICKERING'S GARTER SNAKE, E. sirtalis pickeringii. 

 Distribution. Western Montana, Idaho, Oregon 

 and Washington. 



II. Three pale stripes on a darker ground. Scales in 17 rows. 

 Colours and pattern like the typical form. Differs in 



lesser number of scale rows, by the small, narrow head 

 and generally smaller size of the adult. 



NARROW-HEADED GARTER SNAKE, E. sirtalis UptOCephdla. 



Distribution. Pacific region California to British 

 Columbia. 



III. No stripes. Distinct rows of spots. Scales in 19 rows. 

 Green, olive or brown, with rows of black spots, ar- 

 ranged in tessellated fashion. 



SPOTTED GARTER SNAKE, E. sirtalis ordinatus. 

 Distribution. States east of the Mississippi. 



The Typical Form. The Common Garter Snake, of the 

 Eastern States, is, in itself, extremely variable in its pattern and 

 colours. Mature specimens are quite stout. Young individuals 



232 



