WATERSNAKE. A harmless colubrine ser pent of the genus Natrix (or Tropidonotns), closely related to the garte•-snakes (q.v.). The common watersnake of the United States is Natrix fasciata of Cope, who names six varieties of the species, of which all are Southern except variety sipedon. This form, known in the older books as Tropidonotas sipedon, is the numerous and well-known watersnake of the Northern and Eastern States as far West as the dry plains. Its average adult length is three feet, but it fre quently grows larger. The color is a variable brown, with large dark brown markings on the back and sides, and with the belly yellowish or reddish, spotted with reddish brown rounded spots (absent in some Southern varieties). These colors, together with its habits and somewhat broad head, had to its often being mistaken for the venomous moceasin snake (q.v.), of which some naturalists consider it a mimie. (See Mim ion%) This snake is semi-aquatic in its habits, being usually found on the borders of the water, especially quiet millponds and sluggish streams, where it takes refuge when alarmed. It is an expert swimmer and diver, and skillful at catch ing fishes, on which it mainly subsists; it will also eat dead fishes. When cornered it is pug
nacious, but its bite is insignificant and harm less. Its young, 16 to 33 in number, are born alive, when about eight inches long.
The watersnake of Europe is Natrix natrix, which in several varieties is to be found all over Europe, Western Asia, and the :Mediterranean Basin. It is much like the American snake in form, colors, and habits, but very variable. This is the only snake except the viper in Great Britain, and there it does not occur in Ireland o• Scotland, and is commonly known in England as 'grass snake.' The main difference between it and our watersnake is that the English one is more active on land, and lays eggs, which are buried in loose loam, or in manure or dust heaps, and hatch after some time. It is de scribed at length by Gadow, Amphibia and Rep tiles (London, 1001) ; and by Leighton, British Serpents (Edinburgh, 1001). Several other species of the genus occur in the _Malayan Archipelago and two in Africa; some of them are large and of savage appearance, but all are harmless. Consult Cope, Crocodilians, Lizards, and Snakes of North America (Washington, 1000), and other authorities cited under SNAKE.