82 



THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



deep grey, dark brown, reddish brown or black. The lighter specimens may 

 have the blotches edged with a darker shade. The area between the markings 

 varies from light tan or whitish to almost any shade of brown or grey. In 

 many individuals the pattern may be less distinct posteriorly and in some 

 adults the color of the ground may approach that of the blotches so closely 

 as to present a nearly uniform dark appearance. 



The blotches of the middorsal series, 26 to 43 in number from head to 

 anus, are from 3 to 7 scales long and from 7 to 13 scales wide. The blotches 

 of the lateral series, which alternate with those of the median series, are 2 or 

 3 scales wide and are situated from the 5th to 8th row of scales to the ends 

 of the ventrals. The most anterior dorsal and lateral blotches unite to form 

 dark crossbands or saddles, these averaging 10.6 in number, but frequently 

 extending much farther back. In a single specimen from Geauga County the 

 lateral blotches are alternated with the dorsal all the way forward to the head. 



The belly normally is marked with numerous dark edged semicircles of 



Map 19. Ohio locality records and general 

 range of the Common Water Snake, Nalrix 

 sipedon sipedon. The area within the circle 

 at the top of the map indicates the range of 

 the Island Water Snake, Nalrix sipedon 

 insularum. 



