ro8 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



or greenish spots. The scales are strongly keeled. The species 

 varies in color; specimens are occasionally found upon which 

 the stripe on the back is indistinct or entirely wanting; others 

 present a spotted appearance between the stripes. 



Abundant under various conditions of swamp, woods and 

 rocky localities, the Garter Snake will continue to exist within 

 our local borders long after many of the other species of serpents 

 have been exterminated by the ruthless slaughter that unjust 

 prejudice inspires. The species is N'iviparous, bringing forth as 

 many as thirty or more living young at a brood. The young 

 reptiles feed upon earthworms and grow rapidly. While im- 

 mature, these snakes are secretive, and the character of their 

 food enables them to obtain a livelihood withotit prowling forth 

 into danger. Far different is the case of the active young 

 Blacksnake in seach of mice, as it crcisses roads and clearings 

 into the danger zone of stones and clubs. 



The adult Garter Snake feeds mostly upon frogs and toads; 

 birds and small mammals are never devoured by this species. 

 The length of a large specimen is about a yard. 



Range: North America, southward to Guatemala. 



Local distribution: General and common ; is found in the 

 large parks of New York City. 



Our common Water Snake, Kntrix fasciata sipedon (Fig. 14), 

 is a variety of a species abundant in the southern states. The 

 Water body is rather stout, with strongly keeled scales ; the 



Snake. color is brown with broad irregular cross-bands of 

 reddish brown which show more distinctly on the sides. The 

 underside is yellowish white, brightly marked with red spots 

 and blotches. The young of this species are quite different 

 from the adult in coloration, the body color being gray with the 

 cross-bands black and very distinct. The adult attains a length 

 of four feet and a diam.eter of two inches. From two and a lialf 

 to three feet long, however, is the usual size. 



Alwavs frequenting the vicinity of water, this snake may be 

 seen in numbers along slow-nmning streams, either sunning 

 itself on the banks or stretched upon the branches of bushes 

 that overhang the water. It feeds upon fishes, frogs and toads. 

 The Water Snake is viviparous, bringing forth as many as forty 



