376 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Hough, ('52, p. 23) in describing his collection made for the state 

 museum in St Lawrence county, notes that this species is " of com- 

 mon occurrence in this section of the state.' 1 The specimens then 

 sent in have disappeared, so that the record can not be verified ; but ? 

 as I have stated, (1901) Gebhard, then curator, was competent to 

 make the specific determination and would hardly have allowed 

 an obvious error to be published. The species can not well be con- 

 fused with any other New York form, and Hough's record can not 



Pig. 12 Ophibolus getulus getulus 



be neglected or suppressed ; but, if true, the distribution thus given 

 the chain snake is remarkable. Further data on this point would be 

 of great service, and I would consider it a favor if some St Lawrence 

 county naturalist would investigate the matter. 



12 Natrix fasciata (Linn.) 

 Jordan. Natrix sipedon 

 Scales all carinated, in 23 or 25 rows. General form robust ; 

 tail not long. General color above bright reddish brown to gray, 

 usually marked by large, dark brown, transverse spots ; below yel- 

 lowish or reddish, usually with more or less rounded spots of chest- 

 nut or reddish brown. Length 30-50 inches. 



Of the " subspecies " listed by Cope, only one (IS" . f. sipedon) 

 is definitely known to occur within our limits* Both W. H. Smith 



