98 



or three of the lower rows of scales, is a band of silver-gray. There 

 are on each side of the body three rows of alternating spots of dark- 

 brown. Of these spots, those of the middle row are largest and most 

 distinct. They lie on the second to the sixth rows of scales, are about 

 two scales long, and are separated by one-half scale's length. There are 

 about fiftj^-five of these spots from the head to the vent. Above this 

 row is another of considerably smaller and fainter spots. The spots of 

 the lowest row occupy the lower edge of each alternate scale of the first 

 row. Belly deep salmon-red, each side ornamented by a row of dis- 

 tinct black sppts, the size of the eye. They are located on the inner 

 half of the outer fourth of the ventrals. Whole throat and lower jaw 

 light salmon, as are the upper la])ials and the snout. Head brown, be- 

 coming black on the upper edges of the upper labials. The length may 

 become about eighteen inches. 



This species is distributed from New Jersey ( i, '60, 340,) to Illinois. 

 It is a common species about Indianapolis, almost as common as Eutainia 

 sirtalis. It is found in Monroe county (D. S. Jordan) ; Crawfordsville 

 {Beaehler) ; Winchester (Engle and Wright) ; rare about Terre Haute, 

 common in Putnam county ( Blatchley) 



This is a handsome species of snake, and one that is wholly innocent. 

 Nevertheless, it exercises the right of the innocent, and when attacked 

 makes a show of self-defense. It has a habit of flattening itself exces- 

 sively, so that it becomes very broad and thin. It will strike vigorously, 

 but does no harm. It appears early in the spring, and is seen late in 

 the autumn. In a mild winter and on a sunny day, I have seen it 

 on January 25. On the other hand, I have seen it as late as the 

 middle of October; indeed, it appears to ])e more abundant late in 

 the autumn than in the summer. About this date, several half-grown 

 ones were found. On the 21st of March, one was dug up out of the 

 mud on the margin of a pond. A specimen from Winchester, Indiana, 

 contained eight eggs. These had, apparently, not begun development, 

 and were only about .44 inch long. The species probably produces 

 living young. 



Natrix sipedon, (Linn.). 

 Water-snake. 



Coluber d'pedon, Linnaeus, 1758, 6J^, ed. x, 219; Tropidonotus sipedon, 

 Holbrook, 1842, oi, iv, 29, pi. 6 ; Garman, 1883, 13, 25, pi. 2, fig. 3 ; 

 Nerodia sipedon, Baird and Girard, 1853, 6, 38 ; Natrix fasciata sipedon, 

 Cope, 1892, 3, 671. 



Variety fasciata. Tropidonotus fasciatus, Holbrook, 1842, o^., iv, 25, 

 pi. 5; Coluber fasciatus, Linnaeus, 1766, 64, ed. xii, i, 378; Nerodia 

 fasciata, Baird and Girard, 1853, 6, 39 ; Natrix famiata. Cope, 1892, 

 3, 670. 



