Small, Keeled- scaled Serpents 



on the 2d and 3d rows of scales, is a similar stripe, though more 

 obscure. 



Abdomen white, or yellow, with two rows of black spots. 



From above, this serpent looks much like a garter snake 

 (Eutcenia) , but may be told by the smaller head and the rows 

 of black dots on the abdomen. (See accompanying illustration). 



Dimensions. Total Length 14 inches . * 



Length of Tail if 



Greatest Diameter f " 



WidthofHead & " 



Length of Head * " 



Distribution. The Central States, Ohio to northern Texas. 



Habits. A secretive reptile. In captivity it prefers to 

 hide and is indifferent to food. About this species, Mr. Julius 

 Hurter, of St. Louis, Mo., remarks: "Found along the river 

 front m an abandoned quarry near the Arsenal grounds, in city 

 of St. Louis. They are found under rocks and under sods. In 

 1892 during the big inundations, I have found hundreds of 

 them drowned and washed against the settling basins of the 

 St. Louis water-works at Bissell's Point. They all came from 

 a tract of low ground above the water-works, about i$ miles 

 long by about 600 feet wide. This place is covered with rank 

 grass, and in dry weather the ground which is of a boggy kind of 

 black earth, cracks in all directions, thereby forming hiding places." 



The Genus Seminatrix: The single species inhabits the ex- 

 treme southeastern corner of the United States. Though closely 

 allied to the water snakes and frequenting damp places, it is a 

 very secretive, almost subterraneous reptile. From the typical 

 water snakes it differs in having smooth scales on the body; 

 the scales of the tail are weakly keeled. It is probably a de- 

 generate descendant of Tropidonotus, that has adopted an 

 underground life, yet displays traces of the habits of the ances- 

 tral forms by living in the vicinity of water. 



BLACK SWAMP SNAKE; MUD SNAKE 



Seminatrix pygcea, (Cope) 



Size rather small . Scales of the body smooth and lustrous ; those 

 of the tail faintly keeled. Form rather stout; head not distinct. 



__ * The largest specimen examined was taken near St. Louis ; it was 

 17 inches long. 



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