152 



creatures that are desirable, such as the crayfish and fish, which 

 are utilized by mankind or are food for larger fishes. The cray- 

 fish is also beneficial from an economic standpoint, as it is an 



Fig. 9. — Diagram showing iht; percentages of Food 

 Items of Striped Water Snake (Reyina leberis): 80 

 per cent. Crayfish; 20 per cent. Toads. 



important element in the food of bass, eels, and other fishes; and 

 toads and frogs are among our most valuable insectivorous crea- 

 tures. However, the Queen Snake is entirely non-venomous and 

 as it is an interesting and beautiful form of animal life and is 

 rather rare in this State, we do not find sufficient justification to 

 sanction any attempt at its extermination. 



No. 11. Natrix sipedon. Water Snike. Plate XXIV. 

 This is the most common Water Snake, and is consequently 

 known as "The Water Snake," or ''Wasser Schlange," in Pennsyl- 

 vania German. It is sometimes called The Brown Water Snake, 

 although this common name would as well apply to the preceding 

 species. It is also sometimes called the Moccasin, but this name 

 is misleading and should never be given to any species of snake 

 found in IN'nnsylvania. Tlie (I'ue Water Moccasin is a southern 

 species of snake, not occurring north of Virginia, and it is an 

 exceedingly poisonous or vcnomolis species, as it belongs to the 

 same genus as the rojjjjcrliead. Although our Common Water 

 Snake has a violent temper when angered, and strikes viciously 

 at its captor, it is not j)oisonous in the least. It has sharp teeth, 

 which are used in hoMding its prey, and these may cause bleeding, 

 but need not be the source of any alarm. We know personally 



