1901.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA, 35 



255 ram. (tail 68). The species reaches a length of about 

 600 ram. 



Hab.— Florida. 



Tropidonotus compressicaudus ustus Cope. 



T. ristus Cope, Proc. Aoa'1. Phila., 1860, 310; JVatrix mta. N. eom- 



pressicauda bivittafa, JSf. c. walkerii, N. c. compsolmmn Cope, I. c, 

 G68, 6G9, 670, and Hep. Nat. Mus., 981-983 ; JV. c. kc/wita Cope, Am. 

 Nat., 1895, 676; T. compressicaudus (part) BouL, I. c, I, 238. 



lu this form the spots join to form raore or less distinct cross- 

 bands, sorae thirty-five to forty on the body ; these are frequently 

 obscure, especially in adults; the neck stripes occasionally extend 

 sorae distance toward the tail. The body color is frequently pale 

 yellow, more or less suffused Avith the reddish tinge common in 

 many species of this genus. The whole pattern is indefinite and 

 hardly any two specimens are alike ; upon these trivial differences 

 the forms given in the syuouymy have been based. 



Hab.— Florida. 



Tropidonotus sipedon L- 



Coluber sipedon L., Syst. Nat., Ed. X, 219 (1758). 



Size moderate, to large and stout; scales in 23 or 25 rows; upper 

 labials 8 (occ. 9); oculars 1-3 (2); temporals 1-3 ; veulrals 125- 

 155; subcaudals 59-82. 



In this species the color is brown, yellowish or red above, with 

 darker transverse bauds or spots on the back, or both in combina- 

 tion; the beUy is yellowish, either spotted or unmarked. The 

 pattern is distinct in the young, but the body color becomes dark 

 in old specimens, until the markings are often wholly obliterated. 

 Three well-marked color forms may be distinguished, of which 

 1. s. sipedon is the common "water snake" of the Eastern 

 Middle States; T. s. fasciatus of the Southern and Gulf States, 

 and 2. s. tramversus seems to be restricted to the western part of 

 the lower Mississippi valley. 



a. — Ventrals spotted: 



Cross-bands on whole of back, . . . 1. T. s. fasciatus. 



Cross-bands in front ; spots posteriorly, . 2. T. s. sipedon. 

 b. — Ventrals not spotted; whole body with alternating spots, 



3. T. s. transversiis. 



