Atkinson: Rki'tii.ks oi' Ai,i.i:gheny County. 149 



At Krie this species is found on the lake-shore, hich'ng under drift- 

 wood, and appears to be somewhat aiiuatic. It is one of the com- 

 monest snakes alont; the shore, but is rarer in the interior. Size 

 small, not over sixteen inches in length. 

 S. Sforcna ocdpito-maculata (Storer). Red-bellied brown-snake. 



Tnis species is a rare snake in this locality. The writer took a 

 specimen, nine inches long, near Wilkinsburg, September 7, 1899. 

 Its habits are said to be like those o{ Storeria dekaxi. 



Genus Coluber Linnceus. 

 9. Coluber obsoletus Say. Black-, or pilot-snake. 



.\ common snake in the woods. It is our largest snake. A speci- 

 men killed at Verona measured six feet, seven inches in length. In 

 captivity it feeds on mammals, birds, and batrachians. 



In the Museum collection are two sets of eggs of this species ; one 

 containing twelve eggs, the other fourteen eggs. These eggs were re- 

 moved from the snakes. The writer found a set of twenty-one eggs 

 of this species at the side of a stump, near Wilkinsburg, September 5, 

 1899. The eggs were buried about two inches deep in the soft earth 

 on the south side of the stump : twelve of these eggs hatched out dur- 

 ing the 15th, i6th and 17th of September, 1899, 



Genus NATRIX Laurenti. 



Kkv to Local Species of Natrix. 



Body striped longitudinally ; scales in nineteen rows. leberis. 



Body with color in blotches ; scales in twenty-three rows. sipedon. 



Body with both stripes and blotches ; scales in nineteen rows. kirtlandi- 



ID. Natrix leberis (Linnaeus). Leather-, or striped water-snake. 



This is a very common snake, and is found along all of our streams, 

 lying under stones and logs on the banks. It is a very gentle snake, 

 and can scarcely be provoked to bite. This is in strong contrast to 

 A^atrix sipedon, which will strike on the slightest provocation. In its 

 stomach crayfish are most frequently found, also occasionally fish and 

 small frogs. The length of adult specimens may reach thirty inches. 

 The form is slender. I have found the young to number from six to 

 twelve. They are born about September ist. 

 II. Natrix sipedon (Linnseus). Spotted Water-snake. 



This species occurs about as commonly as Natrix leberis, and in the 

 same situations. In fact it is not an unusual occurrence to find both 



