12 



University of Michigan 



Matrix erythrogas'tcr (Forster). — Two forms of harmless 

 water snakes are recognized by the people near Henry. The 

 one with the pattern of spots is called the "water moccasin," 

 and the one that is very dark above with no dorsal markings 

 and with pinkish belly is called the "copper belly." It seemed 

 to the writer that these two forms were never found together, 

 but more observation is needed on this point as well as on a 

 number of others before the status of erythrogaster can be 

 satisfactorily settled. It is surely not time to synonymize the 

 name with sipedon. It is at least suggestive that all the Henry 

 specimens separate into two clear-cut groups on the basis of 

 belly pattern and ventrals, those with copper bellies having 

 from 149 to 156 ventrals and those having spots below like 

 sipedon possessing 136 to 144 ventrals. This was noted by 

 Clark,'^' and has recently been observed by the writer in the 

 course of examination of large numbers of these types of 

 water snakes. It appears that young examples of erythro- 

 gaster show the dorsal pattern of sipedon but not the ventral. 

 It is particularly desirable that numerous entire broods of 

 both these forms from the same region be obtained for exam- 

 ination. 



The specimens described below are all from Henry. Tennes- 

 see, and are deposited in the University of Michigan Museum. 

 The oculars and temporals are 1-3, the lower labials 10, in 

 every specimen. 



* Clark, H. L. Amer. Nat., vol. 2>7, I903, PP- i-23- 



