52 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



heavily blotched and the subcaudals are 95 in number. Others, instead of 

 showing characteristics of both subspecies in one individual, reveal conditions 

 in which the colors, both above and below, may be intermediate or in which 

 the throat may be partially spotted or the subcaudals may number somewhere 

 between the respective averages. It should be remembered, however, that the 

 last named character cannot be relied upon except when a series of specimens 

 is available; a study of the statistics obtained from the examination of 17 

 intergrades from Ohio which have perfect tails, shows that the number of 

 subcaudals in these specimens varies from 85 to 105, with an average of 91. 



Series of specimens from the same locality within the intergrading area 

 show that intergrades and both constrictor and flaviventris may be encoun- 

 tered in the same territory, but outside of the zone of intergradation only 

 constrictor or flaviventris have been found, depending in which part of Ohio 

 the collector was working. Thus of the twelve and seven specimens available, 

 respectively, from Union Twp., Clermont County, and the vicinity of Hills- 

 boro, Highland County, there are 2 and 1, 2 and 3, and 8 and 3 specimens 

 each of flaviventris, constrictor and intergrades, respectively. Classification of 

 individual specimens is largely a matter of personal judgment particularly 

 when juveniles are involved. It has been the writer's general policy, how- 

 ever, to consider as an intergrade every specimen which did not exhibit all of 

 the characters of constrictor, or of flaviventris. 



Specimens of intergrades examined, 39; specimens preserved, 37; specimens 

 studied, 39. 



Ohio locality records for intergrading specimens are: 



Adams County: Winchester (CSNH 1271). Ashland County: Jeromesville 

 (TZS 2416). Butler County: Oxford (MU). Champaign County: Cedar 

 Swamp, 5 mi. SSW of Urbana (TZS 1956; 2293). Clermont County: Union 

 Twp. (CSNH 1136, 1141, 1181, 1275, 1404, 1406; TZS 1653). Cuyahoga County: 

 Cleveland (WRU). Franklin CountY: Columbus (OSM 17.1-.2); Pleasant Twp. 

 (OSM 371.1). Geauga County: Lake Kelso, Burton Twp. (TZS 1781). Greene 

 County: Clifton Gorge, Miami Twp. (OSM 181). Highland County: 4 mi. S of 

 Carmel (TZS 573); Hillsboro (TZS 1742); 1 mi. S of HiUsboro (TZS 1744); 3 ml. 

 E of Hillsboro (TZS 175). Hocking County: (OSM 18.1 -.2); 1/2 mi. E. of Laurel- 

 ville (TZS 291); Neotoma, Good Hope Twp. (OSM 359, 411.1). Knox CountY: 

 Brinkhaven (TZS 83). LiCKiNG CoUNTY: Granville (OSM 297.1). MusKINGUM 

 County: Washington Twp. (TZS 2415). PoRTAGE CoUNTY: Solon Bog, Aurora 

 Twp. (CMNH). Ross County: Big Round Top, Paint Twp. (CSNH 1869A-B). 

 Summit County: Ira (OSM 260). Tuscarawas County: Dover (TZS 2294). 

 Warren County: 1 mi. W of Ft. Ancient (TZS 949-50). 



Habitat and Habits. — The black racer is a common snake in many parts of 

 southern and eastern Ohio. It was not collected in numbers in any one place 

 but at least one specimen was obtained on almost every field trip to the portion 

 of the state in which it is found. 



It occurs in a variety of habitats but appears to show some preference for 

 dry and more or less open situations. However, specimens were taken in 

 woods, in wet meadows and fields, about old buildings, near stone walls or 

 loose rocks and in the vicinity of brush piles. Several were caught as they 

 were crossing highways and one was collected as it was swimming in a flooded 



