THE REPTILES OF OHIO 47 



in this clutch varied from 23 to 29, average 26 mm.; widths from 10 to 11, 

 average 10.5 mm. A female collected June 15, 1932 contained 5 unlaid eggs 

 of slightly smaller size. The eggs of this species are capsule-shaped and have 

 rather hard white shells. 



Opheodrys vernalis (Harlan) 



Smooth Green Snake; Grass Snake 



Description. — A small, slender snake seldom exceeding a length of a 

 foot and a half. Largest adult Ohio specimen ( ? ), 22% inches in length; 

 smallest juvenile (probably recently hatched), 6I/4 inches. Head small and 

 only slightly distinct from neck. Eye medium; head plates normal. One 

 nasal; the nostril lateral and in the center of the nasal. Loreal present (fused 

 with the nasal on one side in a single specimen) . Body slender, subcylindrical 

 and tapering slightly at either end. Tail slender, tapering to a point and from 

 29.8% to 37.7% of the total length of the snake. 



Dorsal scale rows 15; the scales smooth. Upper labials 7; lower labials 

 usually 8, rarely 7 or 6. Preoculars 1 or 2; postoculars 2 (3 on one side in 

 one specimen). Temporals 1-2. Ventrals 123 to 146; subcaudals 74 to 89. 

 Anal plate divided. 



Color bright green above; whitish, with a distinct greenish yellow tinge, 

 below. Newly hatched juveniles "dark olive-gray above, lighter on the sides, 

 and pale grayish blue below" (Blanchard, 1933, 507). 



The present species greatly resembles the last (keeled green snake) in color 

 and general appearance. It may be readily distinguished, however, by its 

 smooth scales, less attenuated form and the differences in scutellation. 



Specimens examined, 22; specimens preserved, 22; specimens studied, 17. 



Range. — Nova Scotia to southern Manitoba, south to Pennsylvania and 

 West Virginia, and southwestward to Utah, New Mexico and northern Texas. 

 The Ohio records for the smooth green snake are all in the glaciated part of 

 the state (Map 10), but it is entirely possible that it may be found in some 

 of the unglaciated southeastern counties as well. Detailed records follow: 



Ashland Counti': Clearfork State Park near Loudonville (TZS 2011). BuTLER 

 County: Monroe (USNM 10661-3). Crawford County: Brokensword (TZS 

 2281). Erie County: (UMMZ 39115); Kimball (USNM 35687); Sandusky 

 (OSM 12); 10 mi. S of Sandusky (SHS). Fayette County: Buena Vista (TZS 

 2044). Franklin County: Columbus (USNM 1472). Geauga County: Geauga 

 Lake (CMNH). Hamilton County: (Morse, 1904); Newtown (CSNH). Hardin 

 County: Patterson (TZS 1683). Lorain County: Oberlin (OC). Summit Coun- 

 ty: Ira (OSM 13.1-.2, 84-5, 214, 265). Trumbull County: Vemon Twp. (TZS 

 444). 



Habitat and Habits. — The smooth green snake appears to be a compara- 

 tively rare animal in Ohio. While it is recorded from a number of localities 

 in the state, all but two are represented by single specimens. However, the 

 late James S. Hine, of the Ohio State Museum, reported it to be common at 

 Ira, Summit County. 



So few of these snakes were collected that the habitat preferences in Ohio 



