Small, Keeled- scaled Serpents 



on the 2<d and 3d rows of scales, is a similar stripe, though more 

 obscure. 



Abdomen white, or yellow, with two rows of black spots. 



From above, this serpent looks much like a garter snake 

 (Eutcenid), but may be told by the smaller head and the rows 

 of black dots on the abdomen. (See accompanying illustration). 



Dimensions. Total Length 14 inches . * 



Length of Tail ..if 



Greatest Diameter f 



WidthofHead & " 



Length of Head. . . * 



Distribution. The Central States, Ohio to northern Texas. 



Habits. A secretive reptile. In captivity it prefers to 

 hide and is indifferent to food. About this species, Mr. Julius 

 Hurter, of St. Louis, Mo., remarks: "Found along the river 

 front 'in an abandoned quarry near the Arsenal grounds, in city 

 of St. Louis. They are found under rocks and under sods. In 

 1892 during the big inundations, I have found hundreds of 

 them drowned and washed against the settling basins of the 

 St. Louis water-works at Bissell's Point. They all came from 

 a tract of low ground above the water-works, about i miles 

 long by about 600 feet wide. This place is covered with rank 

 grass, and in dry weather the ground which is of a boggy kind of 

 black earth, cracks in all directions, thereby forming hiding places." 



The Genus Seminatrix: The single species inhabits the ex- 

 treme southeastern corner of the United States. Though closely 

 allied to the water snakes and frequenting damp places, it is a 

 very secretive, almost subterraneous reptile. From the typical 

 water snakes it differs in having smooth scales on the body; 

 the scales of the tail are weakly keeled. It is probably a de- 

 generate descendant of Tropidonotus, that has adopted an 

 underground life, yet displays traces of the habits of the ances- 

 tral forms by living in the vicinity of water. 



BLACK SWAMP SNAKE; MUD SNAKE 



Seminatrix pygcea, (Cope) 



Size rather small. Scales of the body smooth and lustrous ; those 

 of the tail faintly keeled. Form rather stout; head not distinct. 



* The largest specimen examined was taken near St. Louis; it was 

 17 inches long. 



263 



