228 REPTILES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



in its circumference anterior to the tail, but. back of the vent, 

 rapidly terminating in a point ; all the upper portion of the 

 body covered with smooth rhomboidal scales. Body, above, of 

 a dark brown color, with numerous transverse white bands, 

 which become confluent on the sides ; the brown portions of 

 the back, between these transverse bands, irregular in their 

 form, and margined with black ; blotches of a similar color 

 with the back, along the sides. Abdomen yellowish, variega- 

 ted with quadrangular black spots. Circumference of the head 

 less than that of the body ; length of the head, one inch ; 

 width across the head, half an inch. The plate at the snout 

 large, with a well marked emargination beneath ; the first pair 

 of plates moderate in size, quadrangular ; the second pair of 

 plates also quadrangular, and much larger ; the central plate on 

 the top of the head large, pentagonal : those upon the sides of 

 this, irregularly quadrangular ; occipital plates very large. 

 Fourteen plates margin the upper jaw ; sixteen plates edge the 

 lower ; these plates on the jaws are yellow, margined with 

 black. Eyes moderate in size ; from their posterior angle, a 

 black band passes obliquely backwards. Upon the neck, seven 

 longitudinal plates, between the chin and the abdominal plates; 

 the anterior three, largest ; the second, larger than any. 

 Length of the tail, four inches. 



The abdominal plates are 207 ; caudal scales, 48. 



This species feeds upon toads and frogs. 



C. sipedon. Lin. The water Adder. 



Shaw's Gen. Zoology, vol. iii. pt 2. p. 496. 

 Harlan's Med. and Phys. Res. p. 114. 



Large numbers of this species are found in mowing 

 meadows which are overflowed a part of the season ; it is fre- 

 quently killed at Cambridge, four feet and more in length ; its 

 body being the size of a man's wrist. By many it is 

 avoided, as being poisonous in its bite. The body is large ; its 

 circumference lessening but little, anterior to the vent ; rapidly 



