SERPENTS OF NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 



377 



('82) and Morse (1901), however, have reported Natrixfasciata 

 e r y t h r o g a s t e r from Ohio. The latter states that it is the most 

 common form in certain localities on Lake Erie. The value of the 

 identification is problematic, but as the localities are definitely given, 

 and the specimens are now in the zoologic museum of Ohio state 

 university, it would seem that the question could be conveniently and 

 finally settled by submitting a suite to Dr Stejneger. The import- 

 ance of these Ohio specimens in the present connection is that, if 

 the subspecies is found as described by the authors noted, it may be 

 expected to occur in western New York. The subspecies is marked 

 off from all others of the Matrix fasciata by being unspotted 

 both above and below, the coloration above being uniform reddish 

 black, and below yellowish red. 



12a Natrix fasciata sipedon (Linn.) 



Water snake 

 De Kay. Tropic! onotus sipedon 

 Jordan. Natrix sipedon 

 General color dull brown to dark gray, with darker transverse 

 spots ; below yellowish, with cloudy blotches of brownish or red- 

 dish. Length 30-50 inches. General form robust. 



Fig. 13 Natrix fasciata sipedon 



New York and New England specimens seem, in general, to be 

 darker in coloration than those from more southerly areas. Hol- 

 brook's type of Tropidonotus niger came from New England 



