. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. Fig. 229.—An adult Matrix cyclopion cyclopion from Harris County, Texas. The ground- color is usually olive; the rather indistinct pattern, brown or black. (Photo by Isabelle Hunt Conant.) Na/rix cyclopion cyclopion, Curran & Kauffeld 1937:261. Tropidonotus cyclopium, Yarrow 1882a: 137. Nerodia cyclopium, H. Garman, 1892:271-2. Nalrix cyclopium, Cope 1892:673. Diagnosis.—A large, heavy-bodied water snake (largest Illinois specimen 1,000 mm. in total length), fig. 229, with 23 to 29 an- terior and 21 posterior rows of strongly keeled scales; ven
. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. Fig. 229.—An adult Matrix cyclopion cyclopion from Harris County, Texas. The ground- color is usually olive; the rather indistinct pattern, brown or black. (Photo by Isabelle Hunt Conant.) Na/rix cyclopion cyclopion, Curran & Kauffeld 1937:261. Tropidonotus cyclopium, Yarrow 1882a: 137. Nerodia cyclopium, H. Garman, 1892:271-2. Nalrix cyclopium, Cope 1892:673. Diagnosis.—A large, heavy-bodied water snake (largest Illinois specimen 1,000 mm. in total length), fig. 229, with 23 to 29 an- terior and 21 posterior rows of strongly keeled scales; ventrals 141 to 144; caudals 59 to 68; anal plate divided; supralabials usually 8 -f- 8; infralabials 10 to 13 on each side; preoculars 1 or 2; postoculars 2 or 3 on each side; suboculars always separating eye from supralabials; groundcolor greenish brown or olive-brown, with approximately 50 narrow, dim black crossbars; ventral color predominantly dark brown posteriorly and blotched with semicircles and squares of yellowish white. Variation.—Scale counts for the three females and one male of the green water snake available from Illinois are as follows: scale rows 29-27-21, 27-27-21, 27-29-21, and 27-24-21; ventrals 142, 141, 143, and 144; caudals 59, 61, 62, and 68; supralabials 8 -j- 8 in three specimens, 8 -f 9 in one; in- fralabials 10-f 10, 13 + 11, 12+12, and 11 + 11; tail length , , , and per cent of total length. The dorsal pattern is dim on all specimens, and the crossbars cannot be counted with accuracy. Habits.—No information is available concerning the habits of Matrix cyclopion in the northern part of its range. On the Gulf Coast, this large water snake inhabits lakes and swamps. Its food consists of fish and amphibians. Like most of the large water snakes, it is pugnacious in behavior. The young are surprisingly large at birth. The size of the brood varies with the age and size of the mother snake. Illinois Distribution.—The green water sna
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