150 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
from parietal plate to tip of tail. Gastrosteges 134 to vent. Post- 
abdominal plates divided or double. Tail about 5% in length, 
tapering rather robustly to tip. Color in alcohol deep dusky- 
brown above, becoming paler and more brownish on sides. Gas- 
trosteges waxy with whitish streaks, and cuneate markings more 
or less dusky-edged. On posterior portion of body these all 
more or less soiled dusky like under surface of tail. Otherwise 
gastrosteges more or Jess tinted with pale chestnut. Iris pale. 
Length 37 inches. 
Color of above in life, upper surface deep brown, obscurely 
marked with a slightly purplish sheen or bloom in some lights. 
Sey. 
WSs 
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dceNcorneans! 
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Water Snake. Natrix sipedon (Linnzus). 
Brown extends on labial plates, though paler until about middle 
of side on trunk, line of demarcation distinct. Lower surface 
of body with a ground-color of waxy-white. About 38 transverse 
lateral dull umber bands on trunk, and 18 more on side of tail. 
These bands at first paler, then becoming more dusky or blackish, 
and each edge with same so that those on caudal and trunk pos- 
teriorly are more or less entirely diffused blackish. Sides of 
body and lower surface washed with pale terra-cotta, tinted brassy 
in some lights. Color below paler on thoracic region, and in- 
clining to more ruddy tint posteriorly. Lower median surface 
of body with a series of blotches of terra-cotta color, at first 
