15i 



the reason for i.unorinn: its distinction is that many persons regard 

 this as the Common Water Snalce. It is distinguished from Garter 

 'Snakes by the anal plate, which is bifid or parted in this species 

 and entire in the Garter Snakes. It also lacks the spots often seen 

 on Garter Snakes. It differs slightly from the Water Snake (No. 

 11) in its general smaller size and the absence of spots. 



The Striped Water Snake is dirty chestnut in color, with a yellow 

 band along the lower part of each side, which becomes a narrow 

 stripe along the neck, with a yellow spot on the base of each upper 

 jaw. There are three narrow dorsal stripes, often inconspicuous, 

 and the head is small and dark in color above the middle of the 

 eye. The belly is yellow with two broad bands, but without the 

 reddish spots, as seen in the Water Snake. The true scales are all 

 keeled and are arranged in nineteen rows. The average length 

 of this snake when full grown is twenty-four inches, although 

 younger specimens, smaller in size, are often seen. 



The Queen Snake or Striped Water Snake is another species 

 that is ovoviviparous, or bears young. In this State it reproduces 

 during the month of September, and brings forth from 6 to 12 

 young, which it remains near, according to the manner of the 

 Garter Snake. 



This species is much more common in this State than the pre- 

 ceding. We have received nineteen specimens from the following 

 counties listed in our records: 



Allegheny County, Couch, Witmer, Carnegie. 



Berks County Witman, May Reading. 



Dauphin county Solder, Miss Martha G., Dauphin. 



Fayette County Lange, W. H., Belle Vernon. 



Lancaster County, Wistar, J. J Columbia. 



Lebanon County Bohn, J. G Onset. 



Montgomery Countty Benner, Raymond, Telford. 



Benner, W. M., Telford. 



Washington County Couch, Jos Hickory. 



Couch, Merle Oanonsburg. 



This table shows that it is well scattered over the State, and 

 it is probable that proper search would reveal it in all the counties. 

 It is found throughout the United States and Canada, and appears 

 to be perfectly at home in and under water. 



The literature at hand does not contain any references whatever 

 of the probable food of this species, but Dr. Atkinson says he 

 found in their stomachs crayfish, fish and small frogs. 



Of the fifteen specimens which we have examined, four contained 

 crayfish, and one contained a toad. Judging only from these known 

 facts of its feeding habits, it would not be considered beneficial 

 to mankind from an economic standpoint, because it destroys 



