86 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



The food of the water snake consists almost exclusively of cold-blooded 

 animals. From the stomachs of specimens collected in the state the following 

 animals were obtained: crayfish, minnows (Notropis), white crappie (Pomoxis 

 annularis), catfish (Noturus flavus), bull frog (Rana catesbeiana), green frog 

 (R. clamitans), leopard frog (R. pipiens), mud puppy (Necturus m. macu- 

 losus) and a small water snake of its own species. Fish probably constitute 

 a large portion of the food but it is unusual for water snakes to catch the fast 

 moving game fish. The snakes doubtless obtain many fish from pools in 

 which the latter have become land-locked as a result of the fluctuating levels 

 of the streams. It also appears that the snakes serve a useful purpose as 

 scavengers by consuming dead fish which would otherwise rot and serve as 

 breeding places for flies, etc. Surface (1906, 155) records mice and shrews 

 as occasional food. 



A pair of specimens was found in mating position April 19, 1931, on Pony 

 Island, Indian Lake, Logan County. The male had its tail entwined about 

 that of the female but it could not be determined whether they were actually 

 in coitu. Young are born alive. A female 40% inches in length, which was 

 collected near Port Clinton, Ottawa County, August 20, 1931, gave birth to 

 19 young August 23, 1931. These varied from 8I/4 to 9 inches and averaged 

 8% inches in length. Ditmars (1936, 164) records a litter of 44 young. 



Matrix sipedon insularum Conant and Clay 

 Island Water Snake 



Description. — A medium to moderately large snake attaining a length of 

 well over three feet. Largest adult Ohio specimen ( $ ), 40 inches in length; 

 smallest newly born juvenile, 7% inches. Head medium and slightly wider 

 than neck. Eye medium in size. Head plates normal excepting the two 

 nasals which lie in an oblique plane so that the nostril between them is 

 directed both sideward and somewhat upward. Loreal present. Body slender 

 in juveniles; stouter in adults. Tail medium stout and tapering to a point; 

 more slender in young. 



Dorsal scale row formula variable; scales most frequently 21-23-21-19-17, 

 23-21-19-17 and 23-21-19-18; occasionally a maximum of 25 and a minimum 

 of 16. Dorsal scales keeled. Upper labials almost always 8, but 7 in a few 

 cases; lower labials almost always 10 but occasionally 9 or 11 (8 on one side 

 in one specimen). Oculars usually 1-3; very rarely 2 preoculars, but often 2 

 postoculars. Temporals 1-3, often 1-2. Ventrals in males 141 to 151, aver- 

 age 146.3; in females 137 to 152, average 146. Subcaudals in males 70 to 81, 

 average 75.4; in females 58 to 68, average 63.2. Anal plate divided (single in 

 one specimen) . 



In the most typical specimens of insularum the dorsal surface is uniform 

 grey, greenish grey or brownish grey and the ventral surface is uniform white 

 or yellowish white except for the bases of the ventrals which are often of the 

 same color as the dorsum. 



In some specimens there is a faint indication of a middorsal and lateral 



