Fig. 24. Varieties of the Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis. The specimen 

 at the left is from the Kittatinny Mountains, and the central or dorsal stripe is lacking. 

 Fig. 25. (Lower) Garter Snake and young. The presence of the young near a 

 viviparous parent does not indicate parental care. The young reptiles are imme- 

 diately ready to shift for themselves when born, although they may incidentally 

 remain near a crevice where the mother is sunning. Litters of garter snakes and 

 water snakes vary from a dozen to more than fifty. 



