"Ham" "mophis" "elegans" "terrestrius" 11 Mar. 3 Mi N Half Moon Bay, San Mateo Co., Calif. Caught snake in old field, probably at tribute with lots of mustard. Identified by Jim Anderson. In cage in L.S.B. on 12 Mar. Defecated soon after being put in cage. 15 May Fed the snake a Perthrodonmys negalitis. Snake grabbed him almost immediately got his right in the middle of the abdomen. The mouse clew on the snake's head, pretty far back, and blood appeared but I couldn't tell where blood. The snake then a coil around the mouse, and choked him. The mouse tried to claw on the snake's back, but couldn't do much. The mouse was almost dead but each time the snake took a new bite or new grip the mouse squealed. Gradually the snake worked down to the hind quarters and began swallowing it hind end first. It didn't take long to get it down. The snake really stretched and its neck was quite swollen. Within 15 minutes the mouse was completely gone. Immediately after it disappeared it moved rapidly down past the lung, about 6-8 inches. Here it made a lump about 1" in diameter and about 3 1/2 -4" long. While it was going down the snake opened its mouth several times, possibly as a breathing aid. 19 May Put a lab mouse in the cage yesterday afternoon. Today between noon and 5 PM the snake ate it.