Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 159 



kansas and Missouri. Missouri localities: — Jefferson 

 and Jasper Counties. 



Habits. — Found in damp places under rotten logs and 

 rocks. Their food consists of worms, grubs and small 

 beetles. This species seems to be of a secretive or bur- 

 rowing habit. 



Dates of capture. — March 22 ; May 13, 30. 



Subfamily Cokonellinae. 



The coionelline snakes embrace a great variety of forms of arboreal 

 or terrestrial habits, and consequently of the most different physiog- 

 nomy. Having no grooved fangs of any description, they are of 

 course nonpoisonous. (Stejneger.) 



Genus bascanion. 



Head distinct; cephalic plates normal. Maxillary teeth increasing 

 gradually in size posteriorly, not grooved. Scales smooth, in an odd 

 number of series. Scale pores present. Subcaudals in two series. 

 Anal plate divided. Two preoculars. Loral present. Two nasal 

 plates. Tail more than one-fourth of the total length. Pairs of sub- 

 caudals seldom fewer than one-half the number of ventrals. 



KiEY TO Missouri Species. 



Seventeen rows of scales. Seven upper labials. Bluish-black 

 or greenish above. constrictor. 



Seventeen rows of scales. Seven or eight upper labials. Olive to 

 brownish above, yellow underneath. constrictor flaviventris. 



Seventeen rows of scales. Eight upper labials. Head brownish, 

 color becoming lighter towards the tail. Young, brown, cross 

 banded, the bands often persisting in the adult. flagellum. 



58. Bascanion constrictor Linnaeus. Blue Eacer. Black 

 Snake. 



Zamenis constrictor. Coluber constrictor, Bascanion foxii, Bascanium 

 constrictor, Bascanion fremontii, Coluber mormon, Coryphodon 

 constrictor, HieropMs constrictor. 

 Description. — Rostral triangular, as wide as high, the portion visible 

 from above measuring one-third to one-half its distance from the 

 frontal. Internasals shorter than prefrontals, almost elliptical, short 

 and broad. Prefrontals large, slightly wider than long. Frontal broad 

 in front, much narrower posteriorly, lateral margins concave, a little 

 shorter than the parietals. Supraorbitals broad behind, slightly nar- 

 rowed in front. Parietals short, truncate. Nasals two, about equal 

 in size. Loral higher than long. Preorbitals two; the lower very 



