382 



NEW YOKK STATE :^trSEUM 



19 Eutaenia brachystoma (Cope) 

 Head not distinct from neck"; superior labials six ; inferior labials 

 «ight. Scales keeled, in 19 rows. T.wo- distinct nasal plates. Tail 

 one fourth total length. 



Color below, light olive, unspot- 

 ted ; above darker olive, with a 

 broad, brown band on each side, 

 extending from the fourth to the 

 middle 'of the ninth row of scales, 



Fig. 20 Eutaenia brachystoma inclusive ; chin yellowisll. - 



The type specimen, and the only one so far obtained, is stated by 

 Cope (1900, p. 1057) to have come from Franklin, Yenango co. Fa. 



20 Eutaenia sirtalis (Linn.) 



Oarter snake 

 De Kay. Tropidonotus taenia 

 Jordan. Thamnopliis sirtalis 



Head disthict, oval ; body moderately robust ; form in general 

 much stouter than Eutaenia saurita; tail between one quarter 

 and one fifth of total length. Superior labials eight ; inferior 

 labials 10 ; scales keeled, in 19 rows. Color above varying from 

 light green through olivaceous to black, usually traversed by three 

 longitudinal stripes, of which the laterals are not well defined, and 

 all three may be very faint or entirely wanting. Below, usually 

 light bluish green, bxit varying to darker and even to black. 



This, the common "garter snake," is abundant throughout the. 

 state, and ranges in altitude from tide level' to the highest summits 

 of tlie Catskills and Adirondacks. It is the most variable of 

 American serpents, no less than six "subspecies" having been 

 recorded from the area here considered. In the author's opinion, 

 however, these six forms are of very unequal systematic value, and 

 calling all of them subspecies merely results in rendering that term 

 meaningless. At some future time the author hopes to be in a 

 position to discuss the New York fbrms, at least, in more detail ; 

 but at present this is impossible, owing to lack of the large series of 

 fresh specimens which such an investigation would require. This 

 being the case, the six " subspecies " noted have been listed and 

 described on the following pages, but the reader may expect to find 



