The Water Snakes 



tail. The scales are heavily keeled, and the upper surface is 

 dull and rusty. 



The head is very long and narrow beneath the plated por- 

 tion which only forms about a half its length ; behind the plates 

 it widens abruptly, causing it to be very distinct from the neck. 

 The eyes are small and bulging, and situated forward, toward 

 the snout, as well as rather high, which character^ 

 this serpent to resemble the species of East I nc ^^(J^ 

 of the genera Homalopsis and Cerberus .^^.^ -r 1 , ^- ' - 

 the same characters are evinced bj jy^J^^jcciji<: 

 demonstrating a close relatiua^p^ iluoosul 



Colouration. Rusty bro^rtj^j^h^-^erieFof black or dark 

 brown blotches on th$ jttff^ fw ^q^are 'in shape; in alternation 

 with them, on tii<- ,J ^^a^imilar series (about four scales wide 



MX >c i ;,.',. i he blotches of the back and of the sides 

 are no^-jjn HV-Ha< 1 with each other. The effect of this pattern is a 



x.rvfi.u'y banded appearance, particularly upon the sides. The 

 hi#ikis,i^4-he uniform colour of the body, and without markings. 



l^ujeath, the colour is yellow, profusely and irregularly 

 with dark brown. 



and half-grown specimens have a paler ground- 

 colour and black bands. They have the habit of coiling in 

 nearly circular fashion, and when in this position assume a 

 ptriking similarity to small examples of the banded rattlesnake 

 r (Crotalus horridus), hence the appellation of "water rattle," 

 which the negroes have given the species. 



Dimensions. Huge examples of this snake were observed 

 in inlets of the Savannah River. Unfortunately, these very 

 large specimens were extremely shy and rendered capture im- 

 possible. From this vicinity, snakes of moderate size were 

 taken, these averaging about four feet in length. Although the 

 writer dislikes to speculate upon the size of specimens that have 

 escaped him, he would judge that some of these must have been 

 close to six feet in length. The measurements of an average- 

 sized female are quoted: 



Total Length 4 feet 2 inches. 



Length of Tail 12 



Diameter of Body 2 



Width of Head (over plates) 



Width of Head (at rear) i| 



Length of Head.. 2J 



257 



