FAMILY COLUBERID.E. 39 



Abdominal plates, 195-205. Length, 36-0. 



Caudal plates, 38- 45. Tail, 5-0. 



This species has been, I suspect, strangely confounded with the Trigonoccphalus contorlj'ix, 

 the arrangement and distribution of the colors agreeing tolerably well. In its markings, it 

 approaches much nearer to the doliatus of the Naturalist's Miscellany (Vol. 7, p. 254), and 

 more closely still to the C liclitensteinii of Wagler. It is needless, however, to add lliat it 

 is specifically distinct from both. 



Tins innocent and beautiful snake is common throughout this State. It has been also ob- 

 served in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio. In this State, its most usual popular name 

 is Milk Snake, although it has various other appellations. It is called Chicken Snake, 

 Tliunder and Lightning Snake, House Snake, and Chequered Adder. In some parts of 

 Westchester it is called the Sand-king ; but for what reason I cannot imagine. In Suffolk 

 county, a large snake resembling this has been described to me under the name of Sachem 

 Snake. 



It is not unfrequently founil in outhouses, and in dairies or cellars where milk is kept, which 

 it is said to seek with avidity. It climbs well, and glides rapidly over the smoothest surfaces. 

 It is rare to find them exceeding four feet ; the more usual length is about two. 



THE RING SNAKE. 



Coluber prN'cTATi's. 



PLATE XIV. FIG. 29. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



The Small Black and Red Snab. Edw.vkds, Gleanings, Vol. 7, p. 2?9, pi. 319. 



Coluber punctatus. LiN. Syst. Nat. 



C. torquatus. Shaw, Gen. Zool. Vol. 3, p. 553. 



Ln Cotiletwre poncttiie. Daud. Hist, des Reptiles, Vol. 7, p. 178. 



Homofosoma puncfafus. Wagler, 



NatTuc edwardsii e\, pu-iKtatits. MERRE.^t, Versuch. p. 131, 136. 



C.pimctalus. HoLBROOK, N. Am. Herpctolog>', Vul. 2, p. 115, pi. 20. Say, Am. Jour. Vol. 1, p. 2f)l. 



C.punctaltts. Harlan, Med. and Phys. Res. p. 117, Stoker, Mass. Report, p, 225, 



Characteristics. Small. Bluish brown ; beneath, red ; often with a triple row of black dots ; 

 a white collar around the neck. Length 12-18 inches. 



Description. Body slender, elongated, with smootli rliomboidal scales. Head small, flattened 

 above, with ten plates on the surface. Nose rounded. Labial plates above, seventeen ; be- 

 neath, fifteen. Nostrils and eyes large. Tail nearly one-fourth of the total length, acute, 

 ending in a horny tip. Anal plate often divided. 



Color. Above bluish brown, approaching to black. Head lustrous, black. Across the 

 occiput a yellowish white collar round the neck, margined with black ; occasionally the collar 

 IS not perfect, but in its place two or more whitish blotches. Beneath yellowish wliitc, and 

 more frequently deep reddish orange. At the junction of the dark color above with the lighter 



