. Annual report of the Regents. New York State Museum; Science. •382 NEW YOKE STATE MUSEUM 19 Eutaenia brachystoma (Cope) Head not distinct from neck ; superior labials six; inferior labials •eight. Scales keeled, in 19 rows. Two distinct nasal plates. Tail one fourth total length. Color below, light olive, unspot- ted ; above darker olive, with a broad, brown band on each side, extending from the fourth to the middle of the ninth row of scales, Fig. 20 Eutaenia brachystoma inclusive ; chin yellowish. The type specimen, and the only one so far obtained, is stated by Cope (1900, p. 1057) to hav
. Annual report of the Regents. New York State Museum; Science. •382 NEW YOKE STATE MUSEUM 19 Eutaenia brachystoma (Cope) Head not distinct from neck ; superior labials six; inferior labials •eight. Scales keeled, in 19 rows. Two distinct nasal plates. Tail one fourth total length. Color below, light olive, unspot- ted ; above darker olive, with a broad, brown band on each side, extending from the fourth to the middle of the ninth row of scales, Fig. 20 Eutaenia brachystoma inclusive ; chin yellowish. The type specimen, and the only one so far obtained, is stated by Cope (1900, p. 1057) to have come from Franklin, Yenango co. Pa. 20 Eutaenia sirtalis (Linn.) Garte?' snake De Kay. Tropidonotus taenia Jordan. Thamnophis sirtalis Head distinct, oval; body moderately robust; form in general much stouter than Eutaenia saurita; tail between one quarter and one fifth of total length. Superior labials eight; inferior labials 10; scales keeled, in 19 rows. Color above varying from light green through olivaceous to black, usually traversed by three longitudinal stripes, of which the laterals are not well defined, and all three may be very faint or entirely wanting. Below, usually light bluish green, but varying to darker and even to black. This, the common " garter snake," is abundant throughout the state, and ranges in altitude from tide level to the highest summits of the Catskills and Adirondacks. It is the most variable of American serpents, no less than six " subspecies" having been recorded from the area here considered. In the author's opinion, however, these six forms are of very unequal systematic value, and calling all of them subspecies merely results in rendering that term meaningless. At some future time the author hopes to be in a position to discuss the New York forms, at least, in more detail; but at present this is impossible, owing to lack of the large series of fresh specimens which such an investigation would require. This being the
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