370 



NEW TOEK STATE MUSEUM 



resembling it in color,^ by having keeled scales in 17 rows ; while 

 L. V e.r □ a 1 i s has smooth scales, in 15 rows. 



Commonly described as not occurring north of central New Jersey, 

 but Ditmars ('96, p. 15) found it " quite common " in Plymouth 

 county, Ot. 



Mr W. Seward Wallace, in his paper on the snakes of Eockland 

 county N. Y., mentions its occurrence in that area ; and in a recent 



Fig. 6. Cyolophis aestivus 



letter to me states that he does " not believe it to be rare, though it 

 is not often seen, owing to its small size and secretive habits." Ifx 

 view of these records it is probable that the species will be found to 

 occur in all tlie other southeastern counties, or at least in "West- 

 chester county and on Long Island. 



6 Zamenis constrictor (Linn.) 



Black snake 

 De Kay. Coluber constrictor 

 Jordan. Bascanion constrictor 

 Head distinct ; body elongate. Scales smooth, in 17 rows. Color, 

 in adult : lustrous pitch-black above ; beneath, greenish black to 



Pig. 7 Zamenis constrictor 



