THE REPTILES OF OHIO 53 



part of the Ohio and Erie Canal in Pike County. Most were in the open, 

 either on the move or coiled in a sunny location, but a number, and especially 

 young ones, were discovered hidden beneath such objects as stones, boards, 

 logs, etc. While they are not habitually arboreal there are many authentic 

 records of their presence in trees and bushes. 



Many specimens sought shelter in a definite retreat. Thus one in Jackson 

 County was disturbed from its resting place on top of a brush pile four times 

 during a single afternoon, and each time it followed the same route to the 

 same inaccessible spot beneath the pile. Many of those surprised in the open 

 dashed for a particular hiding place, even though it was some distance away, 

 and they had to pass other cover apparently as good enroute. On two occa- 

 sions specimens raced toward and past the writer as they sought a certain 

 refuge, even though adequate cover was available in almost every other 

 direction. 



Such an action as this might lead a nervous person to believe that the 

 snake intended to attack, but no evidence was seen which would bear out the 

 popular impression that racers chase human beings. Given a fair chance to 

 escape these snakes made off with alacrity and with such speed that it took 

 an alert and active collector to capture most of them. 



The racer is a nervous and pugnacious snake when first caught and many 

 individuals remain so as long as they are kept in captivity. Specimens strike 

 and bite viciously and the sharp teeth are capable of producing scratches on 

 an unprotected hand. They actively pursue their prey, occasionally with the 

 mouth held open in readiness to seize the victim. The tail is vibrated rapidly 

 when they are angered or alarmed. 



A specimen sunning itself on a steep hillside in Guernsey County on a cool 

 morning in April, 1932, crawled under a large slab of conglomerate. With 

 the aid of an automobile jack the rock was raised and two racers and a pilot 

 black snake were pulled from beneath it. Since the weather had been con- 

 sistently cool it was presumed that these snakes had hibernated under the 

 rock. All were in excellent condition. A. group of farmers found 106 racers 

 hibernating together in a woods near Bellville, Richland County, in February, 

 1932. These they slaughtered and hung up for display (PI. 7, fig. 1). 



The black racer is omnivorous. The numerous records on its food have 

 been well summarized by Ortenburger (1928, 198-201). Included are insects, 

 frogs, toads, snakes, lizards, birds, bird's eggs, and small mammals. The first 

 and last of these constitute the largest percentage of the food; Surface (1906, 

 170) shows that, in the stomachs he examined, insects formed 28y2% of the 

 whole, and mammals (mice, etc.) 379c- Birds and eggs were taken so infre- 

 quently (129c) when compared with the numbers of insects and destructive 

 mammals, that the black racer should be considered as of economic value. 

 Snakes are frequently eaten, and while they are usually of non-venomous 

 species, Verrill (1870, 158) records an instance in which a copperhead was 

 devoured. An Ohio specimen collected in Belmont County had a smaller 

 black racer in its stomach and in the latter specimen were the remains of a 

 caterpillar. Captives ate mice, young rats, sparrows, frogs, garter snakes and 



