Reptilia and BafracJtta of Wisconsin. 167 



LioPELTis, Fitzinger. 



L. vernalis, De Kay. Green or Grass Snake. 



Body slender; head elongated; color above blight and uniform deep green; 

 lighter or yellowish beneath; L. 1-l.Vffc. ; tail about 41- inches; G. 129-140; 

 U. 70-98. 



A beautiful species, very lively in its movements; insectvorous. Com- 

 mon throughout the state in damp places, and may often be seen in the 

 morning when there is dew on the grass. 



Ba.sC ANION, B. & G. 



B. constrictor, L. Blue Racer or Black Snake. 



Varies in color; our form varies from azure blue to blue-black; beneath 

 greenish; mouth deeply cleft; head elongated; dorsal scales smooth and 

 usually in 17 rows (sometimes 19); L. 4-6i-; G. 170-205; U. 80-115; southern 

 part of the state; not common. 



This form varies considerably from the Black Snake of the east in its 

 color, which is often a very intense azure blue; especially immediately af- 

 ter moulting. Dr. W. H. Smith suggests that this form might well be made 

 a variety with the very appropriate name of cceruleus. 



BATRACHIA. 



Body always without true scales and covered by a smooth skin; mata- 

 morphosis after birth and usually complete; respiration branchial in the 

 young, and either pulmonary or both pulmonary and branchial in the adult; 

 heai't with two auricles and one ventrical; circulation incomplete. 



KEY TO THE ORDERS OP BATRACHIA. 



I. Body thick set aud when adult without a tail; the posterior limbs much 

 longer than the anterior and developed first in the metamorphosis; skin 

 smooth, granular or warty; tongue free behind and can be protruded with 

 great rapidity Anura. 



U. Body elongated ; the four limbs very widely .separated, short and of nearly 

 equal length; tail, persistent and usually long; tail compressed or terete; 

 fore limb.s developed first in the metamorphosis; motions more or less 

 snakelike Urodela. 



ORDER ANURA. TAILLESS AMPHIBIANS. 



KEY TO THE FAMILIES OP ANURA. 



1. Posterior toes webbed; anterior toes more or less webbed ; upper maxillary 

 and vomer-palatine teeth present; skin smooth, or essentially so; posterior 

 limbs exceeding the length of the body and much longer than the anterior; 

 tympanum distinct and prominent; fingere not dilatable; tongue emargi- 

 nate at free extremity ; live near water Ranidos. 



