24 SERPENTS OF THE NORTHEASTERN STATES 



long and fully two inches in diameter. The average length is two 

 and one-half to three feet. 



While there are allegations that the water snake is harmful in 

 destroying game fish, this is not at all likely. Game fish, as a rule, are 

 too active for the snake to catch them. It pursues slower-moving fish, 

 as well as frogs and toads. Frequenting the margins of ponds and 

 lakes, large and small streams, old dams or the stone bases of roughly- 

 constructed bridges, the water snake may often be seen basking on a 

 rock, stretched on the bank or even on branches overhanging the water, 

 into which it plunges when alarmed. This is the second species so far 

 considered which is viviparous. The young are produced alive, and 

 there are as many as three dozen or more in a litter. They are born 

 during late August or early September. 



General range: Maine to Colorado and southward to Alabama 

 and Oklahoma. 



DeKay's Snake 



(Brown Snake) 



Storeria dekayi (Holbrook) 



(Fig. 18) 



There should be little difficulty in identifying this and the closely 

 allied Storer's or red-bellied snake of the same genus. 



The coloration is brown or brownish gray above, with a series 

 of minute black spots in pairs usually present on the back. The 

 central area between these spots is sometimes of a lighter tint than the 

 ground color, imparting to some specimens the effect of an indistinct 

 stripe. Beneath, the color is pinkish white. The scales are strongly 

 keeled. The average length of full grown specimens is about one foot. 



This snake still occurs in several areas in Central Park, hemmed in 

 on all sides by the congestion and bustle of New York City. There is 

 an old cemetery, less than a city block square, in the Borough of the 

 Bronx, New York City, where these little serpents are fairly abundant. 

 Occurrence in the northeastern States is general except in elevated 

 areas where this species appears to be replaced by the allied Storer's 

 snake. 



The brown snake is frequently found hiding under flat stones. 

 In such places it can find its food which consists largely of earthworms, 

 and it is unique in surviving in localities where other serpents, even 

 the common garter snake, have long disappeared. Its secretive habits, 

 diminutive size and dull coloration aid in its protection. It is a vivipa- 

 rous species. The young are very dark, with a whitish ring around 

 the neck, and resemble the young of the ring-necked snake, but may be 

 distinguished by their keeled scales. 



