694 REPTILES— COLUBRID^. 



labials, 7, lower, 9; inframaxill^ries extending to sixth lower labial; temporal region 

 ooverec^ with two rows of plates, three or four in each ; rostral large, triangular, projeot- 

 iiig between the prefrontals ; dorsal scales in 17, rarely 19 rows ; gastrosteges, 175-190 ; 

 urosteges, 80-110. Length, 6 feet ; head. If inches ; tail, 18 inches ; transverse diameter 

 of head, 1 inch; of neok, J inch ; circumference of body, 5 inches. 



Habitat, Canada, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, 

 South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, 

 Michigan, and Ohio. " St. Domingo." 



From the State I have seen specimens from London and Lancaster, 

 and the portion adjoining Michigan, though it is probably moderately 

 common everywhere. Dr. Kirtland observed that it seemed to be upon the 

 increase, as the State became cleared. 



The western Blue Racer differs very markedly in color from the Black 

 Snake of the east. In the latter the color is a lustrous pitch black, 

 while in ours, in the adult state, it is a light azure, and a very pale 

 blue or almost white beneath. The scales in our serpents are somewhat 

 broader than in any of the eastern specimens which I have seen. These 

 differences are sufficient to constitute what Prof. Cope calls a " sub- 

 species " or geographical variety, to which the name csemUus may very 

 properly be applied. 



The Blue Racers are gregarious animals during hybernation and in 

 spring, having been ploughed up in bunches of seventy to eighty, but in 

 summer they seem to be solitary, as they are then found singly or in pairs, 

 a male and female being together. They inhabit woods, are sometimes 

 found under and around barns, and climb trees and bushes in order to 

 reach birds' nests, and obtain the young birds and eggs. They also prey 

 upon mice and frogs, and although non-venomous, are said to pursue an 

 enemy who retreats before them. Allen remarked that in Massachusetts 

 Bascanion constrictor, like the field mice, was more numerous some years 

 than others, possibly the result of the same cause in both instances, 

 viz. the relative degree to which the ground was protected by snow 

 during winter. The same gentleman saw one alive during a break in 

 the cold weather on January 29, 1864. 



Gbnus LIOPELTIS. Fitzinger. 



Body long and slender ; head elongated ; teeth equal, smooth ; cephalic plates nor- 

 mal; postfrontals and prefrontals each a pair; postorbitals two; anteorbitals one or 

 two ; nasals one ; loral present, occasionally fused with the nasal ; oooipitals large ; 

 mouth deeply cleft; dorsal scales in 15 rows, all smooth; gastrosteges, 129-14S; anal 

 plate bifid. 



