196 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis 
Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta (Say )—Though rather rare, the pilot 
blacksnake is found in most habitats and, like the preceding species, 
is often found about dwellings where rodents can be had. They 
have been collected at House Springs, Kimmswick, Sulphur Springs, 
Imperial, Goldman, Antonio, Barnhart, DeSoto, and Fletcher. One 
example, taken near Hillsboro on May 22, 1932, had eggs plainly 
visible in the body and between 10 P. M. on that date and 7:30 
A. M. May 23 had deionttad 16. Their measurements varied from 
32.5x26.5 mm. to 29x25, average 30.78x25.12. Most of our speci- 
mens have been gentle captives and easily force fed. 
Lampropeltis calligaster (HarLan) —The prairie king snake, 
found in the upland meadow country, is moderately rare in this 
county where it has been taken at Antonio, Kimms wick, Barnhart, 
Danby, Festus, DeSoto, Imperial, Beck and ‘Pevely. It is most fre- 
quently taken where mice are to be found, in fields, haystacks, or 
about corncribs. One individual, bent te in a collecting sack at cap- 
ture, was found to have elimin the remains of a bird and, 
although digestion had rendered ge species unrecognizable, there 
was ample evidence in the undigested feathers to give rise to the 
belief that this was a sparrow, probably a field sparrow. 
Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki oe ag ema Sirs ed king 
snakes are moderately common everywhere but are principally 
taken in the open situations. They have been collected at Gold- 
placed in its cage and on one occasion it killed a Lampropeltis 
Oabliewener larger than itself but made no attempt to eat its victim. 
Dead sparrows or mice placed within its jaws were always eaten 
but beef was consistently rejected. Most examples in captivity are 
fond of live mice. A female taken near Kimmswick on June 
1931, laid 14 eggs on July 1. 
Lampropeltis triangulum syspila (Core)—The milk snake is 
considered rare in Jefferson County where it has been taken at 
B art, Glen Park, Sulphur Springs, Kimmswick, and Hillsboro. 
It is cea of occurrence and has been taken by us here only on 
rocky, shaded slopes, gata under lime flakes. Captives can 
be siticinetorily force fi 
Natrix grahamii (Barrp and Girarp)—Graham’s water snake 
is usually found about bodies of water where an abundance of fish 
may be had. Specimens have been taken in Plum Creek near U. S. 
Highway 61. 
Natrix rhombifera HOSP EOES —Diamond back water snakes 
are always found closely esa scae with water. They have been 
taken in Plum and Isle Du Bois C 
