i8 



ous, with the dark markings very indistinct; another from 

 Greenville, New Jersey, has the ground color bright brick 

 red, with the markings forming irregular black transverse 

 bands. 



The species is found in nearly all the sandy localities 

 adjacent to this city, and is also found, although more 

 sparingly, in wooded districts ; specimens from the latter 

 places are generally dark in coloring, while those found in 

 dry sandy districts, particularly near the seashore, have 

 the ground color much lighter. The food seems to consist 

 almost entirely of toads, which are swallowed while alive; 

 the reptile is then greatly aided by the long maxillary 

 teeth, which hold fast the struggling prey. 



Thamnophis Fitz. 



Head distinct from neck. Posterior maxillary teeth 

 longest, smooth. Two nasal plates; one loral. Scales 

 strongly carinated. Anal plate entire ; subcaudal scuta 

 divided. General marking, three light stripes on a darker 

 ground. 



The genus contains species distributed over the entire 

 United States; they are remarkable for their variation and 

 abundance. Two species are found in this vicinity. 



Thamnophis saurita {Linn.). 

 Ribbon Snake. 

 Upper labials seven, fifth largest. Vertical plate narrow. 

 One large preocular and three small postoculars. Body 

 very slender; tail long, about one-third of the total length. 

 Coloration : Head brown above, with the labials yellow; 

 portion of preocular bounding orbit and lower postocular 

 also yellow. Body above, brown, sometimes black, with 

 a distinct and clearly denned dorsal stripe of light yellow, 

 occupying the median row of scales and half a scale on 

 each side. In the brown specimens there is a black stripe 

 on each side of the dorsal stripe, half a scale wide. Lat- 

 eral stripe of same color as dorsal on third and fourth rows 



