166 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences^ Arts and Letters 



H, simus, L. Hog-nosed Snake. 



General color lighter and more yellow than the last species; about 32-35 

 dorsal blotches; vertical plates broader than long; interfrontal region with 

 4-8 small plates; dorsal scales 23-27 rows; L. 2^-3 feet; G. 130; U. 45-55; 

 sandy localities throughout the state; not rare. 



Coluber, L. 



Body large; head elongated; ante-ortjitals one; post-orbitals two; mouth 

 deeply cleft; upper labials 8, lower 11. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF COLUBER. 



(a") Dorsal scales 35 rows; color above light brown with more or less quadrate, 

 chocolate colored blotches in three rows, the dorsal two or three times 

 larger than the lateral; head light brown or yellowish above vulpinus. 



(b) Dorsal scales 27 (usually); color black and shiny; scales often margined 



with yellowish; head black above obsoletus. 



C. vulpinus, B. & G. Fox Snake. 



Vertical plate broader than long; abdomen with colors in blotches; L. 5 

 feet; tail about 10 inches long, large at the base; prairies throughout the 

 state; food, small vertebrates and insects; not rare. 



C. obsoletus, Say. Pilot Snake or Racei. 



Upper labials yellowish; beneath darker and more or less mottled with 

 yellow, black and whitish; vertical plate longer than broad; dorsal scales 

 27 rows (usually); L. 4-6; tail 10-11 inches; G. 230-235; U. 80-85; found 

 througliout the state in timbered districts, but is not common. 



Feeds on squirrels, birds, bird's eggs, etc. ; is somewhat arboreal in its 

 habits. The larger forms are very rare. 



Ophibolus, B. & G. 



O. triangulus, Boie. Milk Snake. 



Local names numerous and various. General color grayish with three 

 series of black margined brown blotches, the dorsal row numbering about 

 50, and elliptical to oval in shape; lateral spots in two rows, varying in size; 

 head with two blotches above; blotched beneath; dorsal scales in 21 rows; 

 G. 200-210; U. 48-55; L. 3-4 ft.; tail 5-6 inches; varies greatly; habits carni- 

 vorous; common. 



DiADOPHIS, B. &G. 



D. punctatus, L. Ring-necked Snake. 



Bluish black (or darker) above, without spots; occipital region with yellow 

 Ting or spots; beneath orange or lighter, each plate generally having a dark 

 spot; head depressed; dorsal scales 15 rows; G. 140-165; U. 35-58; L. lift.; 

 tail about 3 inches, found under stones or bark of decaying trees; odor 

 strong; not rare. 



