BATRACHIANS AND RBPTII<KS OF OHIO. 131- 



Natrix fasciata sipedou L. As above, but blotches brownish and with 

 a series of small blotches of brown alternating on the sides with the larger 

 dorsal blotches. Below yellowish to ashy, each gastrostege, with a black 

 quadrangular blotch. Body thick and heavy. Scales 23, sometimes 25. 



The common Water-snake is to be found in every stream of 

 the State. It is very variable in color and markings, but cannot- 

 well be confused with any other snake. It is never found far 

 from the water, and generally places itself so that it may, at a 

 moment's notice, glide into that element which affords it an effec- 

 tive retreat. When handled it is very aggressive and strikes- 

 violently. While not poisonous, its bite is, to say the least, 

 unpleasant, as the teeth are long and very sharp. Its food con- 

 sists of fish, insects and toads. 



The members of this genus are all ovoviviparous, retaining- 

 the eggs in the body until hatched. The Water-snake is held by- 

 some to swallow its young when unduly pressed. This is a mis- 

 take, and the error may be due to the observer thinking that the- 

 unhatched young in ^the oviducts were in the alimentary canal. 



The Water-moccasin of the South is often confused with this- 

 species. The poisonous snake has been reported from the Ohio 

 River near Cincinnati, but no specimens exist and it is very prob- 

 able that the supposed cases are large individuals of the present 

 Species. 



Specimens in the U. S. Nat. Mus., recorded by Cope from Poland^. 

 Columbus, Lima, Richland Co., and Maumee and Cuyahoga Rivers. In the 

 Cin. Soc. Nat. His., by Dr. Lindahl at Put-in-Bay and Hamilton Co. 



Natrix fasciata erythrogaster Shaw. Head long, Uniform dark 

 bluish-black above, growing paler on sides. Below copper-colored, with a 

 series of punctations along sides of gastrosteges. Scales 25. Length 3>i feet. 



The Red-bellied form of the Water-snake is limited in its- 

 range to the north-western part of the State. Among the islands 

 of lyake Erie the writer has taken specimens. Thus at Put-in- 

 Bay it is common, but sipedon is found along with it. This fact 

 cast a doubt in the writer's mind, but careful inspection of the 

 specimens warrants such identification. Prof. H. I/. Clark ('03) 

 has made a statistical study of the species of Natrix occurirng in. 

 Michigan, and to it the reader is referred for a better definition, 

 of the several forms. 



Specimen in the O. S. U. Mus., collected by the author at Put-in-Bay. 



