Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 165 



each side, separated by the dorsal band; another spot on the side of 

 the head and across the corners of the mouth, and a small black blotch 

 under the eye. (Hay.) 



Habitat. — This snake lias a distribution from Maine to 

 the Mississippi Valley, and south to the Gulf of Mexico. 

 Specimens from Kansas and Texas have also been record- 

 ed. Missouri localities : — St. Louis, Jefferson, St. Fran- 

 cois, Stoddard, Oregon, Stone, Jackson, Miller, Crawford, 

 and Warren Counties. Illinois localities: — St. Clair and 

 Randolph Counties. 



Habits. — I should call this species aquatic. I secured 

 my first specimen accidentally in a dip net while fishing 

 for Newts, and since have found many near or in water. 

 Those captured on dry land were never far from water. 

 This snake is very common in this neighborhood, being 

 generally taken for a young water snake. Its food con- 

 sists of various insects — crickets, grasshoppers, etc. It 

 is said to be ovoviviparous. 



Dates of capture.— Mar. 20; May 3, 24; Sept. 1; Oct. 

 15, 26; Nov. 1, 13. 



55. Stokekia occipitomaculata Storer. Storer's Snake. 

 Red-bellied Snake. 



Ischnognathus deKayi var. B., Ischnognathus occipito-maculatus, Colu- 

 ber venustus, Coluber occipito-maculatus. 

 Description— -Rostral broader than deep, visible from above. Nasal 

 divided; nostril almost entirely in the prenasal plate; postnasal in con- 

 tact with the pre-oculars. Internasals broader than long, shorter than 

 the prefrontals. Frontal hexagonal, about one and a half times as long 

 as broad, longer than its distance from the end of the snout, and shorter 

 than the parietals. Superciliaries narrower in front than behind. Two 

 pre- and two post-orbitals. Temporals 1-1 or 1-2. The first temporal 

 extends for half the length of the sixth labial. Upper labials six; third 

 and fourth entering the eye, fifth and sixth the largest. Lower labials 

 seven, fourth and fifth equal in length, but the fifth wider. Four lower 

 labials in contact with the anterior chin shield. Posterior chin shield 

 shorter than the anterior. Scales in 15 rows, all keeled. Ventrals 

 115-140. Anal divided. Subcaudals 38-60 pairs. Muzzle rather short. 

 Eyes larger than in DeKay's Snake. 



Color. — The color above is olive or chestnut brown, uniform or with 



