154 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



46. Nateix fasciata Linnaeus. Banded Water Snake. 

 Mocassin. Southern Water Snake. 



Natrix fasciata fasciata, Natrix sipedon fasciatus, Natrix sipedon, Tropi- 

 donotus fasciatus, Nerodia fasciata, Nerodia sipedon fasciata. 

 Coluber fasciatus. Coluber porcatus. 



Description. — Head elliptical, tapering to the snout. Dorsal rows 

 of scales twenty-three to twenty-five, all carinated; carinae on the dor- 

 sal region very conspicuous. Scales on the outer row feebly keeled, 

 broad and rounded posteriorly. Tail one-fourth of total length, very 

 much tapering. Rostral broader than deep, visible from above. Fron- 

 tal plate elongated, as long as its distance from the end of the snout. 

 Superciliaries very narrow, one preorbital and three postorbitals. Up- 

 per labials eight; fourth and fifth entering the eye, sixth and seventh 

 the largest. Temporals 1 plus 2 or 1 plus 3. The large temporal shield 

 in contact with the postorbital, and followed by two rather large scuta. 

 Lower labials 10, the fifth and sixth the largest; five lower labials in 

 contact with the anterior chin-shields. Ventrals 128-154. Anal divided. 

 Subcaudals in 58-82 pairs. 



Color. — Ground color above in the adult uniform blackish brown, 

 lighter in young, crossed by transverse yellowish white bars, which 

 widen out at the sides. About 35 sub-triangular or oblong red spots on 

 the flanks. These spots or blotches reach half way across the ventrals 

 and alternate. Middle of the top of the head dark brown. A light 

 band from the rostral through the eye to the neck, where it joins the 

 yellow white color of the throat and chin. Upper and lower labials 

 also yellowish white with the posterior upper corners dark brov/n, more 

 faintly on the lower labials. 



Hahitat, — This form is characteristic of the Austro- 

 riparian region, ranging up the Mississippi and Ohio to 

 southwest Indiana, southern Illinois and Missouri, and 

 southwestward throughout Arkansas and Texas. Mis- 

 souri localities : Butler, Stoddard, and Dunklin Counties. 



Habits. — Down in the Sunken Lands of Missouri and 

 in the adjoining counties this species is of common occur- 

 rence basking in the sun on water plants. They feed 

 on small fish and crawfish. A female which I had in cap- 

 tivity gave birth to twenty- three young ones on the 26th 

 of August. 



Dates of capture. — April 24, 26 ; July 3 ; Sept. 5. 



