REVISION OF THE KING SNAKES. 3 



bution will show from what localities specimens are needed. But 

 above all there is great need of reliable information on the natural 

 history and ecological relations of all forms in the genus. Many 

 students of wild life already know far more about the habits of 

 some of these forms than they will find in these pages, and this fact 

 should encourage them to report any careful observations on all 

 phases of the natural history and ecological relations that they may 

 have opportunity to make. 



Grateful acknowledgment is hereby extended to the numerous 

 museums and individuals who have assisted by loaning specimens 

 or supplying needed information on particular points. First of all 

 the writer desires to express his gratitude to Prof. Alexander G. 

 Ruthven, director of the Museum of Zoology of the University of 

 Michigan, under whose general direction the work has been carried 

 on, for suggestions and encouragement throughout its progress. 

 Much assistance has been rendered by Dr. Leonard Stejneger for 

 providing the opportunity to study the large collection at the United 

 States National Museum, and for placing every available facility 

 at the writer's disposal. Thanks for the use of large and important 

 collections are due es})ecially to Dr. John Van Denbm-gh of the 

 California Academy of Sciences, to Dr. Thomas Barbour of the 

 Museum of Comparative Zoolog}^, to Mr. Henry W. Fowler of the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, to Dr. J. O. Snyder of 

 Leland Stanford University, to Miss Mary C. Dickerson of the Ameri- 

 can Museum of Natural History, to Dr. Joseph Grinnell of the 

 University of California, to Dr. Lawrence E. Griffin of the Carnegie 

 Museum of Pittsburgh, to Dr. Albert H. Wright of Cornell University, 

 and to Mr. Carl L. Hubbs of the Field Museum of Natural History. 

 Smaller, but for the most part very important collections, have been 

 received from the Kansas State Agricultural College, the University of 

 Kansas, the BrookljTi Museum, Iowa State College, the San Diego 

 Natural History Society, Ohio State University, Wesleyan Univer- 

 sity of Connecticut, the Colorado State Teachers' College, the Univer- 

 sity of Colorado, the Colorado State Agricultural College, the Alabama 

 Natural History Museum, the University of Arizona, Smith College, 

 the Public Museimi of Milwaukee, Charles Mohr Natural History 

 Museum of Mobile, the Victoria Memorial Museum, the University 

 of Wisconsin, Dr. W. S. Blatchley, Dr. T. L. Hankinson, Mr. H. P. 

 Loding, Dr. E. R. Dunn, Dr. Thomas Van Aller, Mr. J. W. Mackel- 

 den, and Mr. W. R. Jones. Everything received has been of material 

 help. Often the receipt of only a few specimens has resulted in the 

 solution of an important problem. 



In the hsts of specimens examined, which accompany the descrip- 

 tions of the various forms of the genus, the collections in which the 

 specimens may be found are referred to as follows: Acad. PMla., 



