92 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



A pair of DeKay's snakes was found in mating position at Toledo, March 

 28, 1931, but they separated before it could be determined whether they were 

 actually in union. A female 13i/g inches in length (but with part of tail 

 missing) collected in Cass Twp., Hancock County, August 1, 1931, gave birth 

 to 9 young August 4, 1931. These ranged in length from 3% to 4 ^/-^g 

 inches. Several shed within a few hours after birth. That the number in a 

 litter occasionally may be considerably greater is suggested by the fact that a 

 specimen I41/4 inches in length from Mt. Victory, Hardin County, collected 

 July 6, 1931, contained 23 embryos. Another female 13i/8 inches in length 

 collected October, 1927, at Columbus, contained 24 eggs of large size which 

 appeared to have been fertilized for only a short time. Such might be indic- 

 ative of a late summer or early fall mating. 



A female 12i/^ inches in length from Lucas County contained 3 embryos 

 when examined upon its death July 27, 1931. These were well formed and 

 the largest measured 3% inches in length. Since the female had been in cap- 

 tivity for over a month and no evidence of young had been seen it was 

 assumed that the 3 embryos constituted the entire complement. 



Storeria occipito-maculata (Storer) 



Stoker's Snake: Red-Bellied Snake 



Description. — A small snake attaining a length of about a foot. Largest 

 adult Ohio specimen ( ? ), 12^/^ inches in length; smallest newly born juvenile, 

 3% inches. Head small, blunt and but slightly distinct from neck. Two 

 nasals; nostril lateral and in the prenasal. No loreal. Body subcylindrical and 

 tapering slightly at either end. Tail tapering to a point. 



Dorsal scale rows 15 throughout the length of the body; the scales keeled. 

 Upper labials 6, rarely 7; lower labials 7, rarely 8. Oculars 2-2; temporals 

 1-2, occasionally 1-3. Ventrals in males 121 to 131, average 124.8; in females 

 123 to 131, average 127. Subcaudals in males 49 to 54, average 51; in females 

 43 to 49, average 46. Anal plate divided. 



The color above is light grey brown or chestnut brown to black. In all 

 but the very darkest specimens four longitudinal stripes, slightly darker than 

 the ground color, may be discerned. These occur on the first, and the sixth 

 (or fifth and sixth) rows of scales. There are usually three yellowish spots 

 immediately behind the head. These are obscure in some specimens, but in 

 others they are so large as to be confluent and to give the appearance of a neck 

 ring. The belly is uniformly red or pink; the edges of the ventrals are often 

 dusted with grey in the lighter individuals and with black in the darker. Chin 

 and labials are greyish. 



In a melanistic specimen from the Pymatuning Swamp, near Andover, Ash- 

 tabula County, the general appearance both above and below is uniform black. 

 The markings can be seen only upon close examination except for the occipital 

 spots which are prominent and brownish orange in color. 



Many juveniles are very dark in color. 



Specimens examined, 47; specimens preserved, 43; specimens studied, 30. 



