98 



or three of the lower rows of scales, is a band of silver-gray. There 

 .■are on each side of the body three rows of alternatino: spf)ts of dark- 

 Ibrowu. Of these s])ots, those of the middle row are largest aud most 

 distinct. They lie on the second to the si.xth rows of scales, are about 

 two scales long, aud are separated by one-half scale's length. There are 

 a,bout iifty-five of these spots fronj the head to the vent. Above this 

 TOW is another of considerably smaller and fainter spots. The spots of 

 the lowest row occupy the lower edge of each alternate scale of the first 

 TOW. Belly deej) salmon-red, each side ornamented by a row of dis- 

 tinct black spots, the size of the eye. They are located on the inner 

 lialf of the outer fourth of the ventrals. Whole throat and lower jaw 

 light salmon, as are the upper labials and the snout. Head brown, be- 

 coming black on the upper edges of the upper labials. The length nmj 

 .become about eighteen inches. 



This species is distributed from New Jersey ( i, '60, 340,) to Illinois. 

 It is a common species about Indianapolis, almost as common as Eutainia 

 sirfrtli:<. It is found in Monroe county ( D. S. Jordan); Crawford sville 

 ■( Beachler ) ; Winchester (Engle and Wright) ; rare about Terre Haute, 

 •common in Putnam county ( Blatchley) 



This is a handsome species of snake, and one that is wholly innocent. 

 Nevertheless, it exercises the right of the innocent, and when attacked 

 makes a show of self-defense. It has a habit of flattening itself exces- 

 sively, so that it becomes very broad and thin. It will strike vigorously, 

 hut does no harm. It appears early in the spring, and is seen late in 

 the autumn. In a mild winter and on a sunny day, I have seen it 

 on January 25. On the other hand, I have seen it as late as the 

 middle of October; indeed, it appears to be more abundant late in 

 the autumn than in the summer. About this date, several half-grown 

 one.s were found. On the 21st of March, one was dug up out of the 

 mud on the margin of a pond. A specimen from Winchester, Indiana, 

 contained eight eggs. These had, apparently, not begun development, 

 and were only about .44 inch long. The species probably produces 

 living young. 



Natrix sipedon, (Linn.). 

 Water-snake. 



Coluber sipedon, Linnseus, 1758, 64, ed. x, 219; Tropidonotns sipedon, 

 Holbrook, 1842, o^, iv, 29, pi. 6 ; Garman, 1883, 13, 25, pi. 2, tig. 3 ; 

 Nerodia sipedon, Baird and Girard, 1853, 6, 38 ; Natrix faseiata sij)edon, 

 €ope, 1892, S, 671. 



Variety faseiata. Tropidonotus fasciatu^, Holbrook, 1842, 54, iv, 25. 

 pi. 5; Coluber fasciatus, Linnaeus, 1766, 64, ed. xii, i, 378; Nerodia 

 faseiata, Baird and Girard, 1853, 6, 39; Natrix faseiata, Co})e, 1892, 

 S, 670. 



