No. 50.] 117 



SYNONYMS. 



Coluber getulus, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1.1766, 382.— Gm. L. Syst. Nat. ed. xiii. I. iii. 

 1788, 1106.— Harl. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. V. 1827, 358; and Med. & 

 Phys. Res. 1885, 122.— Peale, Cont. Macl. Lye. I. 1829, pi. v.— Dekay, N. 

 York Fauna, III. 1842, pi. x. f. 21. 



Pseudoelaps getulus, Fitz. N. Class. Rept. 1826, 56. 



Coronella getula, Holbr. N. Amer. Herp. III. 1842, 95, pi. xxi. 



Unguis annulatus, Catese. Nat. Hist. Carol. II. 1743, 52, tab. Iii. 



Ophibolus getulus, B. & G. 1. c. 1853, 85. 



The ehainsnake is quite maritime in its northern distribution, being rarely 

 found in the Northern States except near the coast. It is occasionally seen in 

 Long Island, according to Dr. Dekat, and more frequently in Eastern New- 

 Jersey. It is quite abundant in the Southern States. I have no evidence of 

 its occurrence west of the Mississippi on the southern coast. 



This species is sometimes called Kingsnake ; and is said to wage a deadly 

 warfare against the different species of rattlesnakes, killing and devouring 

 them on every occasion. 



11. Ophibolus eximius, B. ^ G. — Housesnake. 



Spec. Char. Grayish ash, with one dorsal series of upwards of fifty transversely 

 elliptical chocolate blotches, with two other alternating lateral series on each 

 side. 214, 54, 21, 40^, 5^ (New-York). 



SYNONTIIS. 



Coluber eximius, Dekat, ( MSS.) and N.Y. Fauna, Rept. 1842, 38, pi. xii. f. 25. 



— Harl. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. V. 1827, 360; and Med. & Phys. Res. 



1835, 123.— Storee, Rep. Rept. Mass. 1839, 227. 

 Pseudoelaps Y, Berth. Abh. K. Ges. Wiss. Gott. I. 1843, 67, pi. i. f. 11 & 12. 

 Ophibolus eximius, B. & G. 1. c. 1853, 87. 

 Housesnake, Milksnake, Chickensnake, Thunder-and-lightning-snake. 



The harmless milk- or housesnake, so well known from its habit of coming 

 into the vicinity of houses, is quite common in the Northern States. It only 

 occurs as far west as the Mississippi river. Its southern limit is uncertain, 

 from its having been confounded with the closely allied O. clericus. B.,& G-. 



