AMPHIBIA AND REPTILIA OF COLORADO 99 



60; tail short, 6 to 9 in the total length; size small, less than 16 

 inches. 



General color above brownish, varying to olive or reddish brown; 

 a pale mid-dorsal stripe, about four scales wide; on each side of the 

 mid-dorsal stripe a row of dark spots, the spots being about two rows 

 of scales apart; below these rows of spots on each side other spots 

 may be present; all of the spots subject to variation; head brown, 

 often with small black dots, and sometimes with a spot under each 

 eye and across the side of the head ; ventral parts pinkish to salmon 

 red; ends of the ventrals usually with brown spots. 



This small snake is one of the most abundant snakes of eastern 

 United States. It hides under stones and fallen timber and is rarely 

 seen except when sought for. Its food consists of earthworms, slugs 

 and insects. It is viviparous, bearing as many as eighteen young 

 (Ditmars). 1 Some discussion has arisen as to whether this species is 

 aquatic or not. Branson 2 states that all of the Kansas specimens 

 examined by him were either from the water or near the water. On 

 the other hand, this snake has been taken in non-aquatic environments. 

 It is probable that it lives in both habitats. 



Range, eastern United States generally, west to the Rocky Moun- 

 tains and south into Mexico. 



Colorado specimen. — Stale Teachers' College Museum: Las Animas County, 

 A. E. Beardsley. 



Genus LIOPELTIS Cope 



Liopellis Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 559, i860. 



This genus is represented in the North American fauna by but a 

 single species, L. vernalis (DeKay). The other species are found in 

 eastern Asia. 



Liopeltis vernalis (DeKay) 



Smooth Green Snake; Grass Snake; Little Green Snake 



Coluber vernalis DeKay, in Harlan, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., Vol. V, 

 p. 361, 1827. 



Liopellis vernalis — Cary, N. Am. Fauna, No. 33, p. 40, 191 1 (Rio Finos, near 

 Vallecito, Colo.). 



■ Reptile Book, p. 269. ■ Kans. Univ. Sci. Bull., Vol. II, No. 13, p. 395, 1904. 



