256 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



levels, but extends its range up in the Sierra Nevada so far, at 

 certain points, that it overlaps that of T. o. elegans, just as the 

 range of T. o. hammondii overlaps that of T. o. elegans in the 

 San Bernardino Mountains of southern California. But, while 

 T. 0. hammondii and T. o. elegans seem to remain perfectly 

 distinct and true to character at the places where their ranges 

 meet, specimens showing intermediate characters are found at 

 the points where T. a. couchii and T. o. elegans come in contact, 

 as at Jackass Meadows, 7,750 feet, Tulare County, and in the 

 Yosemite Valley. At other places, as at Fallen Leaf Lake, El 

 Dorado County, and at Glenbrook, Nevada, snakes of both 

 types have been taken but no intermediate specimens have been 

 secured. 



One specimen had eaten a young blackbird. Another had 

 caught a six-inch trout. 



Where conditions are favorable these snakes often attain 

 enormous size. No. 43256 measures fifty-five and a half inches, 

 of which twelve and a quarter inches represent the tail. No. 

 43259 has the same measurement to anus, but the tail is 

 one and a quarter inches shorter. These snakes were secured 

 at Buena Vista Lake, where they live in patches of tules out in 

 the lake and doubtless eat fish. Although they may be seen in 

 considerable numbers sunning themselves on the broken-down 

 tules, they are hard to shoot, for they are very shy and slide 

 into the water at the least alarm. Several were seen which 

 appeared to be larger than any secured by us. The largest 

 specimens sometimes show no lateral lines or other markings. 

 Specimens of similar size occur in the marshes near Los Banos. 



Thamnophis ordinoides hammondii (Kennicott) 

 California Garter-Snake. 



Diagnosis. — Normally with eight supralabials ; twenty-one 

 rows of scales ; no red in coloration ; no dorsal line ; no black 

 on gastrosteges ; often with two preoculars ; inf ralabials rarely 

 more than ten. 



Type Locality. — San Diego and Fort Tejon, California. 



Synonyms. — The only other name which has been based 

 upon individuals of this race seems to be Tropidonotus digueti 



