354 Uuivcrsify of California PuMications in Zoology. [Vol. 7 



Carson City, Nevada, from Bliss and the Snake River in Idaho, 

 and from Shasta, Inyo, and Kern counties in California. The 

 present are definite records from a point near the center of the 

 range implied by these localities. 



Habits. — While these snakes do not move as rapidly as the 

 red racers, they are by no means sluggish. 



Both of those captured at Quinn River Crossing attempted 

 to escape by climbing through a large sagebush. AVhen secured 

 they fought vigorously, coiling themselves about the limbs of the 

 bushes and resisting capture to the utmost. 



The specimens taken on Big and Leonard creeks were both 

 seen as they were crossing the mountain road. The one on Big 

 Creek, after traveling rapidly oif the roadway, observing that 

 it was not pursued, stopped momentarily under a sagebush. 

 On Leonard Creek the racer was taken on a hot clr}- mesa, a 

 hundred yards or more from the nearest water. 



Pituophis catenifer deserticola Stejneger 

 Desert CTopher Snake 



A fragment of a gopher snake was picked up on ]\Iay 11 near 

 the Western Pacific tracks at Winnemucca. Two perfect speci- 

 mens were later secured, both in Big Creek Canon, one at an 

 altitude of 5400 feet, and the other at 6000 feet. 



The gopher snake doubtless occurs generally in small numbers 

 over the deserts of northern Nevada and to some extent on the 

 broad flats in the mountains. 



The first specimen was taken in sagebrush on the ground not 

 far from the creek near the Dugout Camp, Big Creek Canon. 



Thamnophis vagrans (Baird & Girard) 



AVandering Garter Snake 



Distribution. — The commonest snake in the region, both on 

 the desert and in the mountains. Specimens were recorded as 

 follows: Quinn River Crossing (4100 feet), 5; Alder Creek 

 Lake (7800 feet), 3; Dufeer Peak Meadow (8400 feet), 1; Leon- 

 ard Creek Ranch (4300 feet), 1 ; Leonard Creek Flat (6000 feet), 



