374 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



after the lapse of almost sixty years, De Kay's prediction that the 

 species " will probably be found in this state." The pine snake may 

 reasonably be expected to occur in Orange county also, but I have* 

 no record of it from that area. 



10 Osceola doliata (Linn.) 

 Jordan. Lampropeltis doliatus 



Scales in 21 rows : head flattish. Ground color above varying 

 from ashen to bright yellow, but only appearing as transverse inter- 

 spaces between the brown to reddish spots or saddles which cross, 

 the back. Length 30-50 inches. 



Osceola doliata is one of our most variable species. The 

 subject can not well be discussed in the present bulletin, and the 

 reader is referred to Prof. Cope's papers, the more important of 

 which are cited in the accompanying reference list, for a full 

 presentation of his views. The subspecies next described — the 

 familiar milk snake — is the only form of Osceola d ol i a t a 

 occurring in New York. Several specimens in the state museum, 

 however, taken near Albany N. Y. agree much more closely with 

 Cope's O. d. clerica than with O.d.triangula. As Albany 

 is well on toward the northern limit of Osceola doliata the 

 significance of this variation in its bearing on Cope's views of the 

 geographic distribution of the various "subspecies" is apparent. 

 Specimens of the " milk snake " from any part of the state would on. 

 this account be particularly acceptable to the author. 



10a Osceola doliata triangula (Boie) 



Milk snake 



De Kay. Coluber eximius 



Jordan. Lampropeltis doliatus triangulus 

 Above yellowish gray, with a dorsal series of large brown to- 

 chocolate blotches, bordered with black. On each side, on the 

 second to fifth rows of scales, is another series of similarly colored 

 but smaller spots, alternating with the dorsal series. Still another 

 series of blotches, entirely black, occur on the edges of the gastros- 

 teges and the three lowest scale rows. On the head the ground color 

 is exposed as a patch, triangular in outline, the apex being directed 

 backward. Below yellowish white, tesselated with black. 



