Small, Keeled-scaled Serpents 



Colouration. — Pale brown, wilh large, upright, blackish 

 brown blotches on the sides, separated by narrow spaces of the 

 ground-colour; two series of less distinct, rounded blotches on 

 tlie back. The blotches of the sides and the back are in alter- 

 nation with one another. 



Top of the head black; lip plates yellowish. 



Central portion of the abdomen, brick-red; bordering 

 this bright hue on either side is a row of dark spots. 



Dimensions. — Grows to a length of twenty inches, but 

 most specimens are of smaller proportions. I'ollowing are the 

 measurements of a half-grown example, taken near Sandusky, 

 Ohio: 



Total Length 8^^ inches. 



Length of fail 2j 



Greatest Diameter J " 



Width of Head yV " 



Length of Head f " 



Distribution. — Northern portion of the Mississippi Valley — 

 Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan; in some areas 

 the species is as abundant as the garter snakes. 



Habits. — The habits appeal to those of the water snakes 

 although this species is not actually semi-aquatic. It frequents 

 damp woods and swamps and may often be found hiding under 

 logs. If surprised when near the edge of a pond or stream it 

 takes to the water without hesitation and dives to the bottom, 

 to hide in the aquatic vegetation, like a true water snake. The 

 food consists largely of small frogs and toads; captive spec- 

 imens will eat small fishes. Like the water snakes, this reptile 

 produces its young alive. 



The Genus Tropidocloniiim: Closely allied to the preceding 

 genus and separated from it by the structure of the ventral 

 plate, which is entire. 



STRIPED SWAMP SNAKE 

 Tropidoclonium lineatum, (Hallowell) 

 Size rather small. Form moderately stout; tail short. 

 Head small, pointed, and of the same size as neck; eye small. 

 Scales coarsely keeled. 



Colouration. — Grayish brown, with a whitish or yellowish 

 strioe on the back, bordered with black dots; on each side, 



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