SERPENTS OF THE NORTHEASTERN STATES 23 



Striped Water Snake 



(Queen Snake) 



Natrix septemvittata (Say) 



(Fig. 15) 



When young, this species looks somewhat like a dark garter snake 

 without a dorsal stripe, but retaining yellow stripes on each side. It 

 is readily separated from that species by three pronounced dark stripes 

 extending along the abdomen. It is a small and rather slender snake, 

 usually two feet in length, or slightly longer. Adults are dark brown, 

 with three narrow black stripes on the back, which may be indistinct. 

 The bright yellow stripe on the lower portion of the side covers one- 

 half of the first and second rows of scales. 



This is a persistently aquatic reptile, sometimes hanging on the 

 bushes above brooks or small streams of rather rapid motion. In the 

 area outlined in this work, the striped water snake appears to avoid 

 sluggish streams and ponds. 



Food consists of frogs and toads. The species is viviparous, 

 bringing forth the young alive. 



General range : Western Pennsylvania to Wisconsin ; southward 

 to the Gulf. 



Water Snake 

 Natrix sipedon sipedon (Linne) 



(Figs. 16, 17) 



This persistently aquatic serpent, seen along ponds and streams, 

 should not be called a "moccasin." That term properly designates a 

 poisonous water snake of the south and is also applied in some south- 

 ern areas to the copperhead, where the latter is referred to as the high- 

 land moccasin. 



Our local water snake, member of a genus represented by about 

 a dozen semi-aquatic species in south-central and southern areas, is 

 an ugly looking reptile and savage when restrained. However, it is in 

 no way related to the poisonous moccasin or "cotton mouth" snake. 

 The northerly limit of the latter is southern Virginia. 



The body of the water snake is rather stout, with strongly keeled 

 scales; the color is brown, with broad, irregular cross-bands of reddish 

 brown which show more plainly on the sides. The abdomen is yel- 

 lowish white, usually brightly marked with red spots and blotches. 

 Large or old specimens may appear a uniform dull brown or almost 

 black. The young are quite different from the adult, being gray with 

 the cross-bands blackish and very distinct. Large adults are foue^feAtf, 



