merriLes OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY x09 
or more young ata litter. The young are born during the latter 
part of August and early in September. 
Range: The eastern United States from Maine to North 
Carolina. 
Local distribution: Common near ponds, streams and salt- 
water marshes. 
FIG. 14. WATER SNAKE 
Among the local snakes, DeKay’s Snake, or Brown Snake, 
Storeria dekayi (Fig. 15), is unique in surviving in localities 
where the other serpents have long since been ex- Brown 
terminated. It is common in many portions of the SHE Nes 
large city parks, where its secretive habits, diminutive size and 
quiet colors aid in its protection. 
In color this reptile is brown or brownish gray above, with 
a minute series of black spots in pairs usually present down the 
back; the space between these spots is sometimes of a lighter 
tint than the body color, producing the appearance of an indis- 
tinct stripe in some specimens; beneath, the color is pinkish 
white. The scales are keeled. The average length of adult 
specimens is twelve inches. 
