14 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



widely distributed in unglaciated Ohio, follow up such streams as the Mohican 

 River for a considerable distance into glaciated territory. 



4. The unglaciated plateau, occupying the southeastern part of Ohio, is 

 composed essentially of two or more old peneplains now deeply dissected. 

 Relief is strong and in many places a difference in elevation of 600 feet or 

 more may be seen between the tops of the hills and the bottoms of the nearby 

 river valleys. Drainage, which is entirely to the Ohio River, is rapid, and 

 ponds and bogs are scarce. Surface erosion is well marked in many places 

 where the forest has been removed. 



Rocks of several formations outcrop in many areas; sandstone, shale and 

 conglomerate predominate but there is occasional limestone. Numerous hill- 

 sides are covered with loose rocks, and cliffs of moderate height are found in 

 many localities. Of the latter, the most spectacular are of the Sharon and 

 Black Hand conglomerates. In several ravines in Hocking County the last 

 named formation is weathered in such a way as to form cliffs with deep con- 

 cave faces, known locally as "caves." 



Cultivation, except in some of the broader river valleys, is not extensive 

 and much of the unglaciated plateau is covered with trees. Oak and hickory 

 predominate on many of the hills while pine is most abundant on others; hem- 

 lock is common in a number of the moister ravines. In the state forests in 

 Lawrence and Scioto Counties, trees almost completely cover many thousands 

 of acres. 



The lower Scioto River valley together with the portions of Pike and 

 Scioto Counties lying to the west of the river might well be characterized as 

 one of the most productive areas for reptiles in the state. Along the river, 

 and the abandoned Ohio and Erie Canal which parallels it, turtles and aquatic 

 snakes are common, and in the valleys and hills which lie to the west, snakes 

 and lizards are numerous. Several species, such as Carphophis amoena helenae 

 and Crotalus horridus horrtdus are common in this small area, although else- 

 where in the state they are rather rare. 



Coal mining is a major industry in eastern Ohio and in many places its 

 development has caused marked changes in the appearance of the country. 

 The timber requirements of the mines have resulted in the nearby hills being 

 completely denuded. Waste from some of the diggings keeps many streams 

 in a chronic state of pollution. Such unnatural conditions as these cannot 

 help but have a profoundly adverse effect upon many of the reptiles. 



Collecting in the heavily mined areas was poor, but elsewhere in the un- 

 glaciated plateau field trips were for the most part successful. A total of 

 thirty species including four lizards, eighteen snakes and eight turtles was 

 obtained in this part of Ohio. Of this number, however, no less than eleven 

 were taken exclusively in this area, or here appeared to reach their maximum 

 abundance in the state. These are Sceloporus undulatus, Leiolopisma uni- 

 color, Eumeces laticeps, Carphophis amoena helenae, Opheodrys aestivus. 

 Coluber constrictor constrictor, Lampropeltis gctulus nigra, Virginia valeriae 



