Small, Keeled-scaled Serpents 



Colouration. Pale brown, with large, upright, blackish 

 brown blotches on the sides, separated by narrow spaces of the 

 ground-colour; two series of less distinct, rounded blotches on 

 the back. The blotches of the sides and the back are in alter- 

 nation with one another. 



Top of the head black; lip plates yellowish. 



Central portion of the abdomen, brick-red; bordering 

 this bright hue on either side is a row of dark spots. 



Dimensions. Grows to a length of twenty inches, but 

 most specimens are of smaller proportions. Following are the 

 measurements of a half-grown example, taken near Sandusky, 

 Ohio: 



Total Length 8 inches. 



Length of Tail 2\ 



Greatest Diameter | 



Width of Head ^ 



Length of Head f 



Distribution. Northern portion of the Mississippi Valley 

 Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan; in some areas 

 the species is as abundant as the garter snakes. 



Habits. The habits appeal to those of the water snakes 

 although this species is not actually semi-aquatic. It frequents 

 damp woods and swamps and may often be found hiding under 

 logs. If surprised when near the edge of a pond or stream it 

 takes to the water without hesitation and dives to the bottom, 

 to hide in the aquatic vegetation, like a true water snake. The 

 food consists largely of small frogs and toads; captive spec- 

 imens will eat small fishes. Like the water snakes, this reptile 

 produces its young alive. 



The Genus Tropidodonium: Closely allied to the preceding 

 genus and separated from it by the structure of the ventral 



plate, which is entire. 



% 



STRIPED SWAMP SNAKE 



Tropidodonium lineatum, (Hallowell) 



Size rather small. Form moderately stout; tail short. 

 Head small, pointed, and of the same size as neck; eye small. 

 Scales coarsely keeled. 



Colouration. Grayish brown, with a whitish or yellowish 

 strioe on the back, bordered with black dots; on each side, 



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