Il8 PROCEEDINGS MANCHESTER INSTITUTE 



ranged in fifteen rows. The ventral plates number from 120 

 to 125. 



2. S. dekayZjUolhrook. Dekay's Snake. Tliis little snake is 

 about the same size as the preceding, which it somewhat re- 

 sembles. I^ike that, it seems to be more abundant in the fall 

 than at other seasons, though why I do not know. This spe- 

 cies is of a grayish brown color, with a lighter dorsal stripe 

 bordered by dark lines. The belly is of a grayish color. The 

 scales are in 17 rows ; the ventral plates 120 to 138. 



2. Thainnopliis Fitzinger. 



This genus, the Eutainia of Baird and Girard, includes the 

 garter snakes, which are distinguished by longitudinal stripes. 

 Two species are found in the state. In this vicinity both go by 

 the name of striped snake. Both have carinated scales. 



3. T. satcrzhis J^innseus. Riband snake. This is long, slen- 

 der and very agile. It is usually found about water or low 

 ground, and seldom shows any inclination to fight when cap- 

 tured. The back is black or nearly so, with three bright yel- 

 low stripes. Below the lateral stripes the color is brown, shad- 

 ing down to a light yellow on the bell3^ The rows of scales are 

 19. The ventral plates number from 150 to 160. The length 

 is about 30 inches. 



4. T. sirtalisL/mnge:ns. Garter Snake. This species is very 

 variable. The general color is nearly black, varying from oliv- 

 aceous to brownish. The dorsal stripe of 5^ellow is narrow and 

 usually not so distinct as that of T. satcritus. The lateral stripes 

 usually merge more or less into the greenish or brownish j'-el- 

 low of the under side. The colors are generallj^ duller than 

 those of the preceding species, which it resembles. The dark 

 parts are more or less mottled or spotted. In some varieties 

 these spots are more distinct than the stripes. The scales are 

 in 19 rows. The ventral plates number 130 to 160. The max- 

 imum length is nearly or quite four feet. This snake frequents 

 higher ground than its relative; though it may and does go to 

 the water for frogs. It is much more pugnacious, often biting 



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