THE REPTILES OF OHIO 83 



greyish, brownish or reddish on a ground of yellowish or pale grey. Very fre- 

 quently, however, these may be represented by more or less irregularly clouded, 

 marbled or stippled areas, but in any event the markings become more numer- 

 ous and often confluent posteriorly. In many specimens, and particularly in a 

 majority of those from southern Ohio, there is a light midventral area of 

 whitish or yellowish to orange or pinkish extending from the chin to or nearly 

 to the anus. The top of the head is usually similar in color to the dorsal 

 blotches. 



Juveniles are colored and patterned similarly to the adults but are usually 

 paler. 



Specimens examined, 723; specimens preserved, 403; specimens studied, 167, 



Range. — Southern Maine to Minnesota and Colorado, south to northern 

 Alabama, Arkansas and Oklahoma. In Ohio the water snake doubtless occurs 

 in every county (Map 19). Records are: 



Adams County: Blue Creek (OSM 241); Ohio Brush Creek at Buzzard's Rock, 

 Jefferson Twp. (TZS 739-40); Serpent Mound, Bratton Twp. (OSM 245). Allen 

 County: Sugar Creek. Lima (USNM 21690); 4 mi. NE of Lima (TZS 233). 

 Ashland County: Clear Fork State Park, Hanover Twp. (TZS 2221); Savannah 

 Lake. Clear Creek Twp. (TZS 1255). Ashtabula County: Eagleville (CMNH) ; 

 Farnham; Geneva, Cowle's Creek (USNM 40093); Monroe Twp. (OSM 215.4); 

 Pymatuning Creek, near Williamsfield (TZS 1020) ; Pymatuning Swamp, near 

 Andover (TZS 1030-1); 3 mi. NE of Richmond Center; Rock Creek, Rome Twp. 

 (TZS 1451); near Rome (TZS 1452). Athens County: Near Athens (OU). 

 Belmont County: Armstrong's Mills (TZS 1229-30); Capfina Creek, near Stein- 

 ersville, Powhatan Point (TZS 1241 A). Brown County: 2 mi. W of Decatur (TZS 

 1918-20). Butler County: Hughes; Timberman's Creek, 5 mi. from Hamilton 

 (CSNH 209); Skinner's woods, near Westchester (TZS 281-2, 309, 393). Carroll 

 County: Union Twp. (TZS 343). Champaign County: Kennard (TZS 1946-7). 

 Clermont County: Union Twp. (CSNH 1135A-C, 1227, 1236; TZS 1399-401). 

 Clinton County: Near Centerville, Lee's Creek P. O. (TZS 673). Columbiana 

 County: Little Beaver Creek, S of Cavers, Wayne Twp. (TZS 344-6). CosHOCTON 

 County: Ohio Canal, Oxford Twp. (TZS 1862). Crawford County: Cranberry 

 Twp. (TZS 994) ; Sandusky River, 7 mi. E of Bucyrus (TZS 454) ; Sandusky River, 

 3 mi. S of Sulphur Springs. CuYAHOGA CoUNTY: East Rockporl, Berea (MCZ 216): 

 Furnace Run, near Bedford (NU 9); Mayfield Twp. (TZS 538); North Olmsted 



(CMNH). 



Defiance County: Defiance (Kirsch, 1895); Hlcksville (FMNH 429); Ladd 

 Lake, Milford Twp. (TZS 366); Section 31, Tiffin Twp. (TZS 1274). Erie Coun- 

 TY: (UMMZ 34255-6, 41941); Birmingham (OC) ; Castalia (SHS; UMMZ 

 62655-7); Milan (UMMZ 31722); Sandusky (SHS; UMMZ 31618-21. 31735-6. 

 32588-95. 32780, 32850-1. 32950-55, 40722-3, 40942); Old Woman Creek. Berlin 

 Heights. Fairfield County: Lancaster (TZS 504); Lieb's Island, Buckeye Lake 

 (OSM 89); near Rushville (OSM 213). Fayette CountY: Near Bloomingburg 

 (TZS 1994); Jeffersonville (OSM 126). Franklin Counts': (USNM 25964, 

 25971); Columbus (USNM 1107); Olentangy River, Columbus (OSM 45); Jack- 

 son Twp. (OSM 101). Fulton County: West Fork, Swan Creek. Swan Creek 

 Twp. (TZS 517). Geauga County: Chardon (TZS 1783-4); Geauga Lake (TZS 

 539-40); Lake Kelso. Burton Twp. (TZS 821. 1335-8. 1780). Greene County: 

 Oldtown; 2 mi. N of Xenia (TZS 2270-1); Yellow Springs (MCZ 791). GUERN- 

 SEY County: Wills Creek at Kimbolton (TZS 1256-7). Hamilton County: (Morse. 

 1904; CM 5131-2; CSNH 1993); Cleves (CSNH 1061); Delhi Twp.; Fern Bank 

 (CSNH 1060A-B); Harrison (CSNH in9A-B). Hancock County: Blanchard 

 River, Marion Twp. (TZS 605). Hardin County: Near Hepburn (TZS 1090); 



