76 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



(OSM 293; TZS 204-6, 1660, 1966); Maumee (TZS 1091); Monclova (BGSU; 

 TZS 2388); Niles Woods, Jerusalem Twp. (TZS 1656); Toledo (ANSP 20601-2; 

 TZS 9. 628-35, 1476; UMMZ 68879): Toledo-north end (TZS 2300); West Toledo 

 (TZS 13); Toledo-near Toledo Zoological Park (CM 5278-80, 6677-8, 8088-95; 

 TZS 33-5. 81, 92-7, 379-81, 914, 940, 1092-3, 1196-7, 1222, 1289-1290A, 1647. 

 1685, 1830, 2382-3, 2419). Paulding County: Maumee River at Antwerp (TZS 

 2418). Perry County: (OSM 38). Sandusky County: 6 mi. NNE of Fremont 

 (TZS 1427). Wood County: Bowling Green (BGSU); Perrysburg (USNM 

 83449); Tontogany (TZS 396). 



Habitat and Habits. — Considering Ohio as a whole it cannot be said that 

 Kirtland's snake is a common species, but it is well established and abundant 

 in at least two areas. These, unusual though it may seem, are in or near 

 residential sections of the cities of Toledo and Cincinnati. Most of the other 

 localities are represented only by single specimens. 



Moist situations appear to be more or less a requisite, but Kirtland's snake 

 is decidedly less aquatic than the other Ohio representatives of the genus 

 Matrix. Only two or three specimens were found actually in water although 

 several were in the vicinity of marshy meadows or small woodland pools and 

 less often along streams. A few were discovered by raking through mud or 

 soggy masses of grass and leaves. Almost all those found in early spring 

 were covered with mud or clay, with which they had become coated during 

 hibernation. 



In Cincinnati these snakes occur on idle land and in several of the public 

 parks, even ranging over the hillsides which often become decidedly dry in 

 midsummer. In Toledo they are also found in the parks but the largest num- 

 bers were taken in a few acres of open fields and meadows immediately adjacent 

 to the Toledo Zoological Park. The abandoned Miami and Erie Canal, the 

 Toledo portion of which was drained in 1929, passed through this area. It is 

 expected that the loss of the canal and the development of the boulevard which 

 is to occupy its bed will have a considerable effect on this colony of Kirtland's 

 snakes. The more aquatic species, the common water snake and queen snake, 

 once common along the canal, disappeared shortly after it was drained. 



A number of specimens were found in the open, particularly in the spring, 

 but most were located under boards, stones, etc. A characteristic behavior 

 was to flatten the body until it was almost ribbon-like in appearance. This 

 action often was accompanied by a rigid immobility of the snake, which, in 

 turn, was followed by a series of ineffectual strikes. Whether or not the 

 mouth was opened during this maneuver was not determined, but none of the 

 many handled made any attempt to bite. Given an opportunity to get away 

 they actively did so and the habit of flattening the body, coupled with an 

 erratic wriggling sometimes made them difficult to hold. 



Kirtland's snake was collected in all the months of the year except Novem- 

 ber and December. The greatest number were taken in April and a graph 

 showing seasonal distribution would have a peak two weeks to more than a 

 month earlier than the majority of other species of snakes in the state. Com- 

 mon garter snakes, Butler's garter snakes, water snakes, queen snakes, DeKay's 

 snakes and blue-tailed skinks were all found in association with Kirtland's 

 snake at one time or another. 



