74 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



in the fact that several of the embryos were malformed and showed signs of 

 having been dead for some time. Lengths of the hving young from the three 

 groups varied from 8% to 10% inches at birth. In each htter the largest 

 specimen did not exceed the smallest by more than li/g inches nor by less than 

 % inch. In the first group, which is the only one which can be considered as 

 having had normal birth, the young varied from 91/4 to 10%, average 9%, 

 inches. 



Natrix kirtlandii (Kennicotl) 



Kirtland's Snake 



Description. — A small snake reaching a length of somewhat less than two 

 feet. Largest adult Ohio specimen ( 9 ), 21 inches; smallest newly born 

 juvenile, 5 inches. Head small and scarcely distinct from neck. Cephalic 

 plates normal. Two nasals, the nostril lateral and largely in the prenasal. 

 Loreal present. Body slender in juveniles to moderately stout in adults. Tail 

 rather slender and terminating in a spine. 



Dorsal scale rows normally 19-17, but occasionally reduced to 17 for a 

 short distance anteriorly or to 16, 15 or even 14 posteriorly. Scales keeled. 

 Upper labials 5 or 6; lower labials 7, occasionally 8, rarely 6 or 9. Oculars 

 1-2, rarely 1-3. Temporals 1-2, rarely 1-1. Ventrals in males 123 to 135, 

 average 129; in females 125 to 136, average 131. Subcaudals in males 57 to 

 69, average 62; in females 50 to 61, average 55. Anal plate divided. 



Ground color above, some shade of light brown or grey upon which are 

 superimposed four longitudinal rows of subcircular black blotches. Those of 

 the outer rows alternate with those of the inner and are somewhat the larger; 

 they involve 2 or 3 scales longitudinally and from 4 to 7 scales transversely. 

 The blotches of each inner row, which tend to become obsolete posteriorly, 

 are situated on either side of the middorsal line and may either alternate with 

 or lie opposite their partners of the other inner row. They involve 2 or 3 

 scales longitudinally and from 3 to 5 scales transversely. The number of 

 blotches in each of the four rows is about the same; those in any one row, 

 counting from the head to a point directly above the anus, are from 45 to 61, 

 average 53. Occasionally a series of small spots, which alternate with the 

 blotches of the outer row, may be observed on the first row of scales and the 

 tips of the ventrals. Among many of the smaller specimens all of these mark- 

 ings may be so obscure as to be seen only when the skin is stretched; adults 

 are usually well patterned. The top of the head is black; the labials, chin and 

 throat are cream or yellowish. 



The belly is bright red or brick red in life but fades to yellow in preser- 

 vatives. Near the end of each ventral scute is a conspicuous black spot 

 giving the appearance, collectively, of two parallel longitudinal rows of spots. 

 Frequently the belly between these rows may be marked with small irregular 

 dark dots which sometimes may be quite numerous, especially posteriorly. 

 The ends of the ventrals are dusted with grey. 



Specimens examined, 155; specimens preserved, 116; specimens studied, 90. 



Range. — Central and northeastern Illinois, southern Michigan, Indiana, 



