36 



THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



Map 6. Ohio locality records and general 

 range of the Worm Snake, Carphophis 

 amoena helenae. 



Habitat and Habits. — The worm snake is a secretive serpent and is rarely 

 seen abroad. Moist situations seem to be preferred and a majority of the 

 specimens collected in the state were found in or near damp woods. Frequent 

 hiding places were under flat stones, boards or decaying logs, or beneath the 

 loosely adhering bark of the latter. Masses of decaying leaves or other vege- 

 table detritus were also inhabited by worm snakes and no doubt they may 

 occur under suitable cover on almost any part of the forest floor. Specimens 

 suddenly exposed by removing their shelters were momentarily dazzled by the 

 sudden brightness but almost immediately they sought cover, making their 

 escape into a crevice or beneath some object. Agility sometimes was required 

 to capture them, especially if they attempted to crawl down one of the insect 

 burrows which often communicate with their retreats. 



Specimens were found to be common on several hillsides in southern Ohio, 

 particularly in Pike and Scioto Counties. Here the woods, lafgely oak and 

 hickory, are relatively thin and often pastured, and the ground is liberally 

 strewn with slabs of sandstone of diverse sizes and thicknesses. Several times 

 systematic overturning of the latter revealed a half dozen or more specimens 



