484 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. | [Vov. XXXVI. 
pallidula is the characteristic form of the Canadian zone, and 
restricts “the name Thamnophis sirtalis Linn. to the brighter- 
colored form found in the Transition and Austral zones of the 
. east." This restriction necessitates a redescription of Eutenza 
sirtalis sirtalis, which he accordingly gives. His summary 
of the differences between the two subspecies is as follows: 
“ Thamnophis sirtalis pallidula needs comparison with no other 
of the sirtalis group except T. sirtalis proper, from which it 
differs in the obscurity of the dorsal stripe, which is grayish, 
not yellow; the ground color, which is olive brown, not black 
or blackish ; in the chestnut color below the lateral stripe, 
where sirtalis is olive; in the lighter color of the belly, espe- 
cially in the younger examples; and in the interlinear spots as 
previously described” (Z.e., the spots of pallidula were described 
as being composed of chestnut scales, with black edges and 
interspaces, and those of sirtalis proper as being composed of 
scales usually entirely black, occasionally faintly reddish in the 
middle). 
As can be seen, this is an attempt to correlate a certain 
variation with a given “life zone"; and, if justified by the facts, 
would be a distinct advance upon the subspecific treatment of 
Cope. For this reason the question of its validity requires a 
more detailed discussion, for even a slight variation — if obvi- 
ously arising from definite causes — is worthy of consideration. 
As will be seen later, however, I cannot admit that pallidula 
fulfills these necessary conditions. Not only do the characters 
assigned to it occur frequently in specimens outside of the 
Canadian zone, but all specimens from that zone do not exhibit 
these characters. 
2. Specimens collected during 1901 in New York State. 
Specimens from Moody, Franklin County, N.Y. 
1. Dorsal stripe very faint, but still visible on close examina- 
tion as a dull yellow-brown line. Lateral stripes fairly well 
shown; greenish yellow. Sides below lateral stripes brownish 
green. Gastrosteges greenish; black spot on anterior edges, 
near sides, often communicating by a thin black band along 

