BATRACHIANS AND REPTILES OF OHIO. 131 



Natrix fasciata sipedon L. As above, but blotches brownish and with 

 a series of small blotches of brown alternating on the sides with the larger 

 dorsal blotches. Below yellowish to ashy, each gastrostege, with a black 

 quadrangular blotch. Body thick and heavy. Scales 23, sometimes 25. 



The common Water- snake is to be found in every stream of 

 the State. It is very variable in color and markings, but cannot 

 well be confused with any other snake. It is never found far 

 from the water, and generally places itself so that it may, at a 

 moment's notice, glide into that element which affords it an effec- 

 tive retreat. When handled it is very aggressive and strikes 

 violently. While not poisonous, its bite is, to say the least, 

 unpleasant, as the teeth are long and very sharp. Its food con- 

 sists of fish, insects and toads. 



The members of this genus are all ovoviviparous, retaining 

 the eggs in the body until hatched. The Water-snake is held by 

 some to swallow its young when unduly pressed. This is a mis- 

 take, and the error may be due to the observer thinking that the 

 unhatched young in the oviducts were in the alimentary canal. 



The Water-moccasin of the South is often confused with this 

 species. The poisonous snake has been reported from the Ohio 

 River near Cincinnati, but no specimens exist and it is very prob- 

 able that the supposed cases are large individuals of the present 

 species. 



Specimens in the U. S. Nat. Mus., recorded by Cope from Poland, 

 Columbus, Lima, Richland Co., and Maumee and Cuyahoga Rivers. In the 

 Cin. Soc. Nat. His., by Dr. Lindahl at Put-in-Bay and Hamilton Co. 



Natrix fasciata erythrogaster Shaw. Head long, Uniform dark 

 bluish-black above, growing paler on sides. Below copper-colored, with a 

 series of punctations along sides of gastrosteges. Scales 25. Length 3^ feet. 



The Red-bellied form of the Water-snake is limited in its 

 range to the north-western part of the State. Among the islands 

 of L,ake Erie the writer has taken specimens. Thus at Put-in- 

 Bay it is common, but sipedon is found along with it. This fact 

 cast a doubt in the writer's mind, but careful inspection of the 

 specimens warrants such identification. Prof. H. I,. Clark ('03) 

 has made a statistical study of the species of Natrix occurirng in 

 Michigan, and to it the reader is referred for a better definition, 

 of the several forms. 



Specimen in the O. S. U. Mus., collected by the author at Put-in-Bay. 



