The Water Snakes 



Distribution. Abundant in the lower Mississippi River 

 valley. It occurs from southern Illinois and Indiana into Texas, 

 in which latter state it extends over considerable area; it also 

 occurs in Mexico. 



Habits. Sinister in appearance, this big water snake does 

 not belie its looks. It is usually of a vicious disposition, even 

 after being months in captivity, though hardy and partaking 

 voraciously of frogs and fishes. The species shows a peculiar 

 fondness for climbing, and numbers of captive specimens spent 

 the most of their time coiled and entwined in the branches of a 

 small tree in their cage. Directly beneath these branches was 

 a tank. When living fish were placed in the tank the snakes 

 at once became alert, slipping down quickly from branch to 

 branch, and finally dropping into the tank from a height of a 

 yard or so, when they rapidly swam about with open mouths, 

 in the capture of the fish, which consumed but a few minutes' 

 time. When the tank had been cleared of fish the snakes again 

 ascended the tree to await the assimilation of the meal. 



These specimens never became tame, and would flatten 

 their bodies and strike repeatedly at the hand of their keeper 

 if in any way interfered with. 



A large specimen from Texas gave birth to sixteen young. 

 These were very large in proportion to the size of the mother. 

 They were fed upon minnows and grew rapidly. Within a year 

 they were but a few inches shorter than their parent. 



THE GREEN WATER SNAKE 

 Tropidonotus cyclopium, (Dumeril & Bibron) 



One of the largest of the water snakes, and very stout in 

 form, although the tail is long and tapering. The head is rather 

 long and distinct from the neck; the upper lips exhibit swollen 

 formation, and the eyes are placed rather high, besides well for- 

 ward, toward the snout. Owing to these outlines and the sombre 

 colours, large specimens appear ugly and formidable. This 

 reptile -is closely allied to the diamond-backed water snake. It 

 is characterised by a ring of small plates around the eye, separating 

 that organ from the lip plates (labials). 



Colouration. Dark green or olive brown, with numerous, 

 narrow black bands crossing the back; these bands are about 

 the width of one scale, irregular and wavy and about two scales 



