RED-BELLIED WATER SNAKE. 685 



Tropidonotus eeythbogasteb Shaw. 



Red-bellied ^Vater Snake. 



Coluber erythrogaster, Shaw, Holbbook. 



Tropidonotus erythrogaster, Holbrook, DbKay, Dumeril and Bibron. 



Nerodia erythrogaster, et agasaim, Baikd and Giraed. 



General color bialsh to reddish black above, without spots or blotches ; beneath 

 coppery red ; body attaining a great size ; head large, triangular ; mnzzle obtuse or 

 truncate ; yertical, occipital, temporal, and labial shields large, of the latter the sixth 

 and seventh upper, and the fifth and sixth lower the largest ; vertical plate pentagonal, 

 broadest in front, about as long as commissural line of occipitals ; anteorbitals one ; 

 upper labials 8, lower 10 ; inframaxillaries large, extending to eighth lower labial ; dor- 

 sal scales in 23 rows, all carinated except the exterior in which it has become obsolete ; 

 gastrosteges 150-155; urosteges 67 to 80. Length, 3 11-12 feet; head, li inches; tail, 

 lOJ inches ; transverse diameter of head, li inches ; of neck, J inch ; circumference of 

 body, 7 inches. 



Habitat, Michigan, Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas and Sonth. 



I have never seen Tropidonotus erythrogaster from Ohio. Dr. Wheaton 

 informs me that in the vicinity of Columbus a large serpent of this genus, 

 with a coppery belly is not uncommon. It is doubtless this species, 

 in which opinion I am confirmed by the fact that it has been found at 

 Lake Erie, near Brest, Monroe county, Michigan. 



Genus HETEEODON. Beauvois. 



Size large ; neck and body capable of great dilatation by inhalation of air which is 

 afterwards emitted with a peculiar hissing sound, hence the name Blowing Vipers ; head 

 short, large, triangular, resembling somewhat the venomous Crotalidas ; cephalic region 

 covered with large plates, of which the rostral forms a trihedral pyramid, with a promi- 



Tkopidomottjs ehombifee Hallowell. 



Holbrook's TTater Snake. 



Tropidonotus rhombifer, Haulowell, Cope. 

 Nerodia rhombifer, et holbrooUi, Baikd and Girard, 



General color brown, with quadrangular black blotches, about 50 in number, from head 

 to end of tail ; lateral transverse bars alternating with the preceding ; head elongated, 

 slightly swollen at the temples ; muzzle truncated ; vertical plate elongated, slightly 

 notched on the sides, and its length greater than commissural line of oodpital: upper 

 labials 8, lower 10; inframaxillaries reaching about to end of seventh lower labials; 

 dorsal scales in 27 rows, ihe outer amooth; gastrosteges 142-143; urosteges 63-73. Length, 

 2|- feet ; head, li inches ; tail, 6^ inches ; transversa diameter of head, 10 lines ; of 

 neck, 8 lines ; circumference of body 3 inches. 



Habitat, Michigan, Illinois, Arkansas, and Louisiana. 



Probably not in oar limiJts, but its range is such that it may easily extend into Ohio. 



