The Water Snakes 



tkil. The scales are heavily keeled, and the upper surface is 

 dull and rusty. 



The head is very long and narrow beneath the plated por- 

 tion which only forms about a half its length; behind the plates 

 it widens abruptly, causing it to be very distinct from the neck. 

 The eyes are small and bulging, and situated forward, toward 

 the snout, as well as rather high, which characteristic causes 

 this serpent to resemble the species of East Indian river snakes 

 of the genera Homalopsis and Cerberus. In a lesser degree, 

 the same characters are evinced by the two preceding species, 

 demonstrating a close relationship. 



Colouration. — Rusty brown, with a series of black or dark 

 brown blotches on the back, square in shape; in alternation 

 with them on the sides is a similar series (about four scales wide 

 and six scales high). The blotches of the back and of the sides 

 are not in contact with each other. The effect of this pattern is a 

 very strongly banded appearance, particularly upon the sides. The 

 head is of the uniform colour of the body, and without markings. 



Beneath, the colour is yellow, profusely and irregularly 

 blotched with dark brown. 



Young and half-grown specimens have a paler ground- 

 colour and black bands. They have the habit of coiling in 

 nearly circular fashion, and when in this position assume a 

 striking similarity to small examples of the banded rattlesnake 

 (Crotalus horridus), hence the appellation of "water rattle," 

 which" the negroes have given the species. 



Dimensions. — Huge examples of this snake were observed 

 in inlets of the Savannah River. Unfortunately, these very 

 large specimens were extremely shy and rendered capture im- 

 possible. From this vicinity, snakes of moderate size were 

 taken, these averaging about four feet in length. Although the 

 writer dislikes to speculate upon the size of specimens that have 

 escaped him, he would judge that some of these must have been 

 close to six feet in length. The measurements of an average- 

 sized female are quoted: 



Total Length 4 feet 2 inches. 



Length of Tail 12 " . 



Diameter of Body 2 " 



Width of Head (over plates) J 



Widthof Head (at rear) i* " 



Length of Head 2\ 



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