OUR ANCIENT ENEMY THE OPHIDIAN. YS 



greenisli tone beneath, marked black ; nineteen dor- 

 sal rows, sometimes less. Common in central Western 

 States to Lake Michigan and Oregon. 



The common garter snake (Eutmnia sirtalis sir- 

 talis). Length, thirty to forty inches ; olive-brown 

 above, sometimes nearly black, with 

 three narrow light-yellow stripes en- 

 croached upon by the three series of 

 small black spots on sides ; greenish 

 white beneath ; nineteen dorsal rows ; 

 dorsal scales keeled ; body somewhat 

 stout ; food, frogs, toads, mice, etc. ; 

 stouter than Eutmnia saurita. This 

 snake is commoner in JSTew York 

 than any other species. It is found 

 from Essex County to Westchester 

 County, and I remember it as the 

 most familiar snake about Lake 

 Mahopac, Putnam County. It 

 frequents wet meadows, and is 

 generally found near the water. 

 The female bears a great number Garter snake, 30 inches. 

 of young ; she is ovoviviparous. 

 Professor Baird says he has killed one with no less 

 than eighty-three little ones about six inches long. 

 It is a disagreeable snake to handle, as it emits a 

 fetid odor. Common through the United States, ex- 



