The Snakes Found within Fifty Miles 

 of New York City. 



By R. L. Ditmars. 



The object of the following paper is to enumerate the 

 Snakes found in the vicinity of New York City, and to give, 

 together with brief descriptions of the species, such notes 

 on their local distribution and habits as may prove of value 

 to those interested in the subject. 



Species of doubtful occurrence have been omitted. 



Family Colubridse.* 

 Head above, with symmetrical plates. Maxillary and 

 palatine bones with recurved teeth. 



Synopsis of Genera and Species. 

 Genus Carphophiops. 

 Head of same width as neck. No preocular ; loral en- 

 tering orbit ; one nasal plate. Scales smooth. 



Chestnut brown above, red beneath . . . . C. amcenus. 



Genus Lampropeltis. 

 Head but slightly distinct from neck. One anteocular ; 

 two nasals ; loral present. Scales smooth. 



Light gray, with chestnut brown spots edged with 

 black L. doliatus triangidns. 



Genus Diadophis. 

 Head distinct. Generally two preoculars ; one loral ; 

 two nasals. Scales smooth. 



Dark gray above, with a yellow ring around neck ; 

 yellow beneath D. punctatus. 



* All of our local species of Colubridce have the plates under the tails (sub- 

 caudals) divided ; and the eye with a round pupil. 



