REVISION OF THE KING SNAKES. 



183 



bottom of the bucket." According to the same authority this 

 snake ''is a cannibal; swallowing its own kind and other small ser- 

 pents and lizards." 



Branson (1904, 401—102) says that 'Hhese snakes are very gentle. 

 They never bite unless very much aggravated. When they do bite 

 they do not strike like other snakes, but take the offending object 

 in their mouths and shut down on it. Their teeth are so small that 

 they can do little injury." 



Mr. Mackelden of St. Louis writes that ^'nearly all the milk snakes 

 I have caught were found under rocks, boards, or logs, etc., in the 

 early part of the day. I have found them in the open field and also 

 in the densest woods. Tlie stomach contents of those I examined 

 revealed earthworms, June beetles, spiders, and smaller insects. I 

 recall having caught one that was in the act of svfallowing a young 

 blue racer." 



This form is so closel}^ related to triangulum and so similar in size 

 and structure that its habits must be much the same as those of the 

 latter. 



Variation and affinities. — Examination of the table showing geo- 

 graphic variation in number of ventral plates, brings out plainly the 

 fact that the lowest numbers occur in the southern portion of the 

 range. 



Table of ventral plates in syspila. 



Locality. 



i 



Avernges. 



Arkansas and Oklahoma 



Southern Missouri 



8 j 185-193 

 5 1 180-198 



188 

 190 



199.8 



201.1 



208.7 

 208 



East central Missouri 



Southeastern Illinois and 

 southern Indiana 



21 



12 

 6 

 5 



190-213 



194-205 

 203-213 

 202-213 



Io"wa 



Fastern Kansas 





Table of scale formulae in syspila. 



Formula. 



Male. 



Female. 



21-23-21-19 



21-19 



19-21-19 



21-19-17\ 

 19-21-19-17/ 

 19-17 



Total 



3 



n 



2 



34 

 1 



4 



21 



2 



13 

 



47 



40 



