150 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



species under the same stone, or log, along the banks of any of our 

 creeks, in which the water is not polluted to such an extent as to kill 

 off the crustaceans, fish, and batrachians, on which these snakes feed. 

 This snake, while absolutely non-poisonous, is very aggressive, and is 

 greatly feared by many people, who confuse it with the moccasin, a 

 poisonous snake, which does not occur in this State. Natrix sipedon 

 attains a length of four feet, and is of a heavy build. The writer has 

 found the young to vary in number from eight to forty-six. The latter 

 number was taken from a female forty-three inches in length. 



12. Natrix kirtlandi (Kennicott). Kirtland's Snake. 



This rare snake, unlike the other species of Natrix, is found chiefly 

 in the woods. The writer took a specimen at Coraopolis, June ii, 

 1897. This is the only record of the capture of this snake in western 

 Pennsylvania. The specimen was fourteen inches in length, of a 

 docile nature, and it freely ate slugs in captivity. It contained six 

 partially developed embryos, and, judging from the thinness of the 

 surrounding membrane, the species must be oviparous. 



This species is not rare in some parts of Ohio. A collection made 

 near Columbus by Richard Beale contained eleven specimens of this 

 snake. 



Genus OSCEOLA Baird and Girard. 



Key to Local Varieties of Osceola doHatn (Linnaeus). 



a. Body with twenty-two to twenty- si.K pairs of black rings, inclosing an incomplete red 



ring, which extends to the edge of the ventral plates. Osceola doliata. 



b. Body marked by quadrate blotches, arranged in one large dorsal row, which does 



not extend to the ventral plates, and two rows of smaller blotches just above the 

 ends of the ventral plates. Osceola dohata triangula. 



13. Osceola doliata (Linnceus). Milk-snake. 



Mr. Edward Davis collected a specimen of this species, in Lower 

 St. Clair Township, during the summer of 1894. This is the only 

 Western Pennsylvanian record for this snake. 



14. Osceola doliata triangula (Boie). Milk-, or house-snake. 



It is found commonly, and owing to its bright colors, and sociable 

 habits, is a much observed species. 



Mr. Omar T. Cruikshank of Wilkinsburg had a small specimen of 

 this species, which he observed swallowing a young Natrix leberis 

 almost as long as itself. 



It is said to drink milk, but repeated attempts by the writer to in- 

 duce it to do so in captivity have failed ; mice being the only food 



