120 BULLETIN 114, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



While there is usually no trouble whatever in distinguishing this 

 form from rhombomaculata, every individual test may be expected to 

 fail in exceptional cases. The possession of 25 or 27 rows of scales 

 will distinguish calligaster in nearly every instance; yet a specimen 

 from southwestern Missouri has the formula 23-21-19-17-19, and a 

 specimen from University, Mississippi, has the formula 23-21-19. So 

 far no calligaster has been found with only eight infralabials and no 

 rJiombomaculata with ten, but both may have nine. The shape of the 

 head is not reliable, nor are the markings on the head. In calli- 

 gaster the dorsal blotches tend to have concave anterior and posterior 

 margins, while in rJiombomaculata these are usually slightl}^ convex or 

 straight, and in the latter these blotches are narrower and tend to 

 come to a point on the sides instead of being more truncate, as in 

 calligaster. 



HaUtat and Jialits. — There have been recorded but few observa- 

 tions on the natural history of this form. For Illinois Garman 

 writes (1892, 294) that it '^occurs on prairies throughout the State. 

 Not very common." Blatchley (1899, 545) records the capture of a 

 specimen in Indiana ''in an open woods 2 miles east of Terre Haute, 

 at a point where the prairie meets the upland. It was crawling 

 slowly over the ground and did not quicken its speed when pursued, 

 though it struck rather viciously when caught." 



An excellent account is given by Branson (1904, 396-7) in his paper 

 on The Snakes of Kansas. He says: 



This species is quite numerous throughout the eastern part of Kansas and occurs 

 in all parts of the State. In the collection of snakes at the Beloit High School there 

 are eight specimens of Ophibolus calligaster and not more than seven of any other 

 species. This collection is representative of Mtchell County and indicates that 

 0. calligaster is as numerous as any other species found there. 0. calligaster lives 

 upon mice, frogs, small fish, etc. I kept three specimens in this laboratory last 

 summer. Birds, toads, lizards, mice, insects, and smaller snakes were placed in the 

 cage with them. They paid no attention to the birds, toads, lizards, and insects, 

 but attacked the mice as soon as they saw them. They would attempt to swallow 

 dead mice that were placed in the cage, but always seized them by the middle of 

 the body. They could not swallow them without beginning at the head and even- 

 tually gave it up. I captured a specimen in Gove Coimty in August, 1893, that 

 had just swallowed a mouse. From these observations I conclude that mice are its 

 principal food. This snake is not often found far from water. The ones that I kept 

 in captivity last summer stayed in the water most of the time. One of these snakes 

 molted three, one four, and one two times during their five months' capti-\dty. The 

 one that molted four times always became cross just before molting and would strike 

 me when I attempted to handle him. He did not strike hard enough to do any 

 injury. 



The conclusion reached by Branson with regard to mice is fully 

 confirmed by Mr. Mackelden, of St. Louis, who writes that — 



On Easter Sunday, 1917, I collected 38 Lampropeltis calligaster along two ravines 

 in Jersey County, Hlinois, and every one of them when caught disgorged from 1 to 8 



