26 SERPENTS OF THE NORTHEASTERN STATES 



Ribbon Snake 



Thamnophis sauritus sauritus (Linne) 



(Fig. 22) 



Two striped snakes occurring in the local area may be separated 

 by difference of form, intensity of pattern and location of the lateral 

 stripe. 



The ribbon snake is the more slender, and its pattern is consider- 

 ably more intense than that of the related garter snake. Coloration is 

 dark brown or black, with a bright yellow stripe down the back and a 

 similar stripe on each side, situated on the third and fourth roivs of 

 scales from the plates of the abdomen. 



Distribution is quite general in more or less undisturbed areas, 

 though it is not nearly as abundant as the garter snake. It frequents 

 damp meadows and the grassy borders of brooks and might almost be 

 noted as semi-aquatic. It is a member of a genus with several species 

 as fully aquatic as the water snake. It seldom exceeds a yard in length. 



Food consists of small fishes, tadpoles and frogs. It is viviparous 

 and the litters are small, there seldom being as many as a dozen young. 



General range: Southeastern Canada and eastern United States 

 to the Mississippi Valley; southward to Georgia and Alabama. Sub- 

 species extend westward to Nebraska, southward into Florida and 

 southwesterly into Mexico. 



Garter Snake 



(Striped Snake) 



Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (Linne) 



(Figs. 23, 24, 25) 



The most commonly seen of the local serpents. Distribution is 

 general and it is fairly abundant near reclaimed or improved areas, 

 where other snakes have long since disappeared. It is common along 

 the salt meadows immediately west of the lower Palisades of the Hud- 

 son, and in many of the suburban areas of New Jersey and New York. 

 Large numbers inhabit the old reservoir site along Jerome Avenue in 

 the northerly part of New York City, and even occur on the northerly 

 portion of Manhattan Island. It is found about everywhere in the 

 rural districts where snakes occur. 



The general color is dark brown or black, with three yellowish 

 stripes extending lengthwise. The color beneath is greenish-yellow. 

 The skin along the sides, when distended, shows numerous white or 

 pale greenish spots, which are often so arranged that a checkerboard 

 or tessellated appearance is produced when the scales are widely sepa- 



