SEEPENTS OF NOETHEASTBEN UNITED STATES 



369 



4 Liopeltis vernalis (De Kay) 



Smooth gr.een snake 



De Kay. Coluber vernalis 



Jordan. Liopeltis vernalis 



Head distinct ; body slender. Scales smooth, in 15 rows. Tail 



less than one third of total length. 



Fig. 5 Liopeltis vernalis 



Above, green ; yellowish to yellowish green beneath. Length 20 

 inches. 



A somewhat smaller species than Oyclophis aestivus from 

 which it is distinguished by its scales being smooth and in 15 rows, 

 as weli as by having a proportionately shorter tail. 



Common in many parts of the state. De Kay '42, states that it 

 is " very common in the marshes about Salina and Caynga." 



" Specimens taken on Staten Island, N. Y." Ditma/rs. '96, p. 14 

 " Still common in the Highlands." Mea/rns. '98, p. 326 

 " More common, I believe, in Orange county than east of the Hud- 

 son." Eokel. 1901, p. 152 



" A number of specimens taken at Ithaca." Re&d. 1901 

 " Quite common in Kockland county." Wallace. 1901 

 Specimens were taken by Baird near Westport, Essex co., and 

 several have-been sent to the state museum recently from Ausable 

 Eorks, Essex co. The species has been recorded as far north as 

 JSTova Scotia. {MacEay. '96.) 



5 Cyclophis aestivus (Linn.) 



Rough green snahe 

 De Kay. leptopliis aestivus 

 Jordan. Opheodrys aestivus 

 Head distinct; body slender. Scales strongly carinated, in 17 

 rows. Tail more than one third length of body. 



Blight green above ; light yellow below. Length 30 inches. 

 Distinguished from Liopeltis vernalis, our only other snake 



