50 GLEAXlMi* I-' HUM ^^T^RE. 



"spotted water sn nkc" and "water moccasin." About 

 the larger ponds and streams, especially those of 

 southern Indiana, it grows to a large size, ivaching a 

 diameter ot three inches and a length of five feet; 

 but in the central and northern parts of the State 

 specimens more than four feet long are seldom seen. 

 It is usually given a wide berth, as seven people out 

 of ten believe that its bite will cause certain death. 

 This belief is no doubt caused by the fact that the 



"water moccasin" or "cotton mouth" 

 The Spotted ,, , 

 Water Snake southern States is a poisonous 



snake, and the common names of the 

 two have become confounded. Our water moccasin 



Fig. 16 Under side of tail of Spotted Water Snake, showing divided plates 

 or scutes. (After Stejneger.) 



has no fangs whatever, and its bite is never more seri- 

 ous than that of a mouse. It is partial to still waters 

 of considerable depth, and seldom frequents streams 

 that have not a bottom of deep, soft mud, in which 

 to take refuge when pursued, and in which it buries 



