THE REPTILES OF OHIO 89 



129. Subcaudals in males 48 to 58, average 52.9; in females 41 to 49, average 

 45.3. Anal plate divided. 



Color above, light yellowish grey or Hght brown to dark grey or dark 

 brown and occasionally a deep reddish brown. A light middorsal band, 

 slightly paler than the rest of the ground color, occupies the median 3 and 

 halves of the adjacent rows of scales. The two scales on either side of this 

 pale band are more deeply pigmented, and on these is a row of small blackish 

 spots, more or less prominent and frequently with upward extensions which 

 may unite with those of the opposite side to form narrow dark crossbands. 

 Often another row of smaller blackish spots may be seen situated below and 

 alternating with those of the upper row. In many specimens, however, all of 

 these markings may be indistinct and may be made out only with difficulty, 

 this being particularly true in the darkest individuals. 



Belly pale yellowish, brownish or pinkish. Frequently the end of each 

 ventral may bear one, or occasionally more, small black dots. Top of head 

 somewhat darker than rest of ground color. A dark area extends downward 

 from the eye and another from the anterior temporal to the commissure. 

 Narrow dark blotches are situated on either side of the nape of the neck and 

 these may unite across the dorsum to form a dark ring 2 or 3 scales posterior 

 to the parietals. 



Juveniles are similar in color to the adults, but average darker and have 

 the pattern more obscure. At birth a conspicuous yellow band, 2 or 2^2 

 scales wide, crosses the neck and occupies the area between the parietals and 

 the above mentioned dark ring. The yellow soon darkens to become approxi- 

 mately the same shade as the rest of the dorsal surface. 



Specimens examined, 412; specimens preserved, 138; specimens studied, 80. 



Range. — From southern Maine west through the lower peninsula of Mich- 

 igan to central Minnesota and central Kansas, and south, except peninsular 

 Florida, to the Gulf of Mexico and along the coast to central Guatemala. 



DeKay's snake occurs throughout most of glaciated Ohio (Map 20). 

 Only one specimen was taken south of the glacial boundary and it was in a 

 small marsh near Jimtown, Eagle Township, Vinton County (May 15, 1932). 

 That this species will be taken in additional localities in the unglaciated plateau 

 is quite probable. The prevalent well drained and dry hills are probably not 

 favorable for it and it is more to be expected in the valleys or in the infre- 

 quent bogs within the area. Locality records are: 



Allen County: Lima (Kirsch, 1895). Ashland County: 9'/2 mi. N of Ash- 

 land (TZS 2458). Ashtabula County: Conneaut (OSM 205.2); Famham; 2 mi. 

 E of Klngsville (TZS 1038); Monroe Twp. (OSM 215.5-.7); Tinker's Hollow, 

 Monroe Twp. (TZS 1023, A-B) ; Pymatuning Swamp, near Andover (TZS 328-9, 

 1458-61); 3 mi. NE of Richmond Center; Wayne Twp. (OSM 108.5); West And- 

 over (TZS 1462-4); Williamsfield (TZS 1022). Butler Counts": Monroe (USNM 

 10665-6). Champaign County: Kennard (OSM 447). Crawford County: 4 mi. 

 NW of Sulphur Springs (TZS 449-50). Cuyahoga County: Cleveland (Baird and 

 GIrard, 1853); East Rockport, Berea (MCZ 218); Solon (CMNH) ; western part 

 of Cleveland (TZS 757). Defiance County: Defiance Twp. (TZS 847). Erie 

 County: (UMMZ 34259-61); Ceda. Point (BGSU); Castalia (UMMZ 62658); 

 Huron (OC; USNM 40095); Sandusky (SHS; UMMZ 32781-5). Fairfield 



