ZOOLOGY. 
297 
or brownish yellow, (fading in alcohol.) A series of inegular vertical bars on the sides from the third to sixth rows, con- 
fluent with the lateral stripe, which covers the second and third rows. Abdomen and first dorsal rows, slate color, bluish, 
or greenish. 
Var. a. Without the lateral spots, the space being black like the back. 
0, Entirely black, the stripes being so narrow as to be almost obsolete ; specimens showing every degree of these 
variations. Sides of head usually more or less mottled with brown and green, the most so in the largest specimens. 
Obtained in all the western portions of the Territory, usually in or near the forests. The 
commonest species, but more rare, east of the Cascade range. — C. 
The variety with red spots was not found by me near Puget Sound, though common at the 
Dalles and Vancouver. 
The colors of my specimen, tvhen living were as follows: In the spring, dorsal scales of a very 
dark invisible green, (almost black.) Dorsal and lateral stripes, ^^ea green. Chin, ichite. Belly 
greenish Avhite anteriorly, becoming posteriorly bluish white and bluish slate, and the under 
surface of tail "blue black." 
In mid-summer the colors remain the same, except that they are darker, (deeper.) This 
species exists in great abundance near Steilacoom and Nisqually. They are found on the 
gravelly prairies and in the vicinity of the numerous small lakes of this section of country. 
About the first of April they begin to come out of winter quarters, and can be seen at mid- 
day sunning themselves near small clumps of scrub-oak bushes, to which they retreat when 
alarmed. A little later they are found in couples or in small companies. Although they are 
rarely ever found more than one-eighth of a mile from water, they are, nevertheless, still more 
anxious to be close to it as the season advances. They will then (in May and June) be found 
lying close to the water, on the lake shores in the grass, and among the sedge of the marshes, 
and even upon small bog islands, as much as fifty yards from the shore. 
In summer, like other members of this genus, they are found lying in small pools, and in the 
water at the edges of the lakes, during the heat of the day. They appear to be a harmless, 
lazy species, and, as above stated, exceedingly fond of the water. 
They rarely exceed twenty-five inches. — S. 
EUTAINIA LEPTOCEPHALA, Baird & Girard. 
The Small-Headed Striped Snake. 
Eutainia kpUxephala, B. & G.Cat. N. Amer. Serpents, 1853, p. 29.— Gieard, Expl. Exped. Herpetology, p. 151, pi. XIII, 
fig. 7-13. 
Sp Ch. — Body i-ather long and slender. Head small, narrow, and flattened; not much larger than neck. Dorsal rows 19, 
the two exterior rows larger, the outer not carinated. Scales on most of the tail not carinated. Labials narrow; 7 above, 
fifth and sixth largest. Above, light olive brown, or darker, with about 130 small brown spots in two series on each side 
the vertebral line, occuring on alternate scales, sometimes wanting. Vertebral stripe faint, on a single row of scale; lateral 
stripe in young specimens partially apparent anteriorily. A blackish stripe from the post-orbital back to the angle of the 
mouth, sometimes touching the labials. 
Found in all the western portion of the Territory. — C. 
Found apparently in all parts of the Territory and in Oregon, specimens having been 
obtained in the St. Mary's valley by Lieutenant Mullan, and on the Snake river, near Fort Boise, 
by myself. — S. 
EUTAINIA VAGRANS, Baird & Girard. 
The liargc-hcaded Striped Snake. 
Eutainia vagrans, B. & G., Cat. N. Amer. Herpetol., I, 1853, p. 35.— Girard, Expl. Exppd. Herpetol., p. 154, 
plate xiv. figs. 6-10. (See plate XVII, Reptiles, Betkwith's P. E. R. Report, vol. X.) 
38 Q 
