Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 153 



ing the anteorbital under the eye. Upper labials 8, the sixth and 

 seventh the largest; the eye over the fourth. Lower labials eleven; 

 fifth and sixth the largest. Five lower labials in contact with the ante- 

 rior chin-shield. Scales in 27 rows. All keeled. Ventrals 135-141. Sub- 

 caudals 62-70. 



Color. — Ground color, above reddish gray. On the middle of the back 

 there is a series of about 50 rhomboidal brown blotches. Alternating 

 with the dorsal series there is, on each side, a series of similarly col- 

 ored blotches. The lateral blotches reach down to the ventrals and 

 lower. The rhomboidal blotches of the back touch with their corners. 

 Thirty-two of these lie in front of the vent. Occasionally there is a 

 little confusion in the relations of the blotches of the different series, 

 but not much. The belly is yellowish white, with some triangular 

 spots of black, giving it a speckled appearance. The head is smoky 

 brown above as far down as the upper edges of the upper labials. The 

 lower edges of these are yellow, with a black border on the hinder edge. 

 The lower labials are similarly yellow, with black posterior edges. 



Habitat. — Michigan to Louisiana and Texas, Arkansas, 

 Missouri and Kansas. Missouri localities: St. Louis, 

 Stoddard, Butler, Dunklin, Jasper, elohnson and St. 

 Charles Counties. In Illinois, St. Clair, Madison and 

 Monroe Counties. 



Habits. — This species is one of the common water 

 snakes in this neighborhood, but more so across the river 

 in the so-called American Bottom in Illinois. Middle of 

 April I found this rather vicious looking snake already 

 mated, lying on the branches of small trees and shrubs, 

 overhanging the borders of creeks, ponds and sloughs, 

 from which at the slightest noise they quickly dropped 

 into the water. When cornered they bite viciously. In 

 hot weather they are often found under logs and boards, 

 partly in the water. To one which I had in captivity for ^ 

 quite a while but did not feed regularly I brought a supply 

 of six large toads, which disappeared within a quarter 

 of an hour notwithstanding the struggles made by the 

 victims. Every time the snake swallowed one the neck 

 was so distended that the scales appeared only at consid- 

 erable intervals. These snakes bear live young. 



Dates of capture. — April 9, 16, 29; July 3; Sept. 5. 



