THE REPTILES OF OHIO 99 



many were taken as in any other month. There was a minor peak in Octo- 

 ber which was the second most fruitful month of the year. 



Butler's garter snake leaves hibernation in early spring and during each of 

 the six years of observations at Toledo it first was found in numbers between 

 March 24 and April 20; April 3 and 4 were about average dates. Breeding 

 activities began immediately; a pair was found in coitu April 4, 1930 and on 

 numerous occasions pairs placed together in cages early in April began court- 

 ing at once. Reproductive instincts appeared paramount to all others at this 

 time of year and specimens, which showed little concern for the observer, often 

 were found prowling about. Males far outnumbered females in spring collec- 

 tions and the reverse was true in midsummer. 



Almost every other species of snake known to be indigenous to glaciated 

 Ohio was collected at one time or another in much the same habitat as But- 

 ler's garter snake. Most frequent associates were the common garter snake 

 and DeKay's snake. 



A number of newly captured individuals disgorged earthworms. Caged 

 specimens throve on a diet of small frogs, earthworms and fish. Ruthven 

 (1911, 268) records several leeches from the stomach of a specimen collected 

 in Michigan. 



Butler's garter snake is ovoviviparous. Three litters of young were born 

 at the Toledo Zoo. A female 17 inches in length from Toledo was bred 

 April 4, 1930, and gave birth to 5 young July 2, 1930; the newly born young 

 averaged 6]/^ inches in length. A female from near Bono, Lucas County, 25 

 inches in length, bore 14 young July 28, 1931, which varied from 61/2 to ^^8 

 inches in length. Another, 221/4 inches in length, collected at Toledo, was 

 bred March 23, 1934, and had 4 young, plus 4 dead (but well developed) 

 embryos and two infertile ova July 3, 1934. Her living young ranged from 

 5% to 6 inches in length. A specimen in the Ohio State Museum, 16'^^ 

 inches in length, collected near the Clifton Gorge, Greene County, on June 



6, 1933, gave birth to four young, ranging from 5 to 5^ inches, on August 



7, 1933. That the number in a litter may sometimes be greater is indicated 

 by Ruthven (1908, 90) who states, "In the specimens examined the number 

 of embryos is about twelve or fifteen." 



Thamnophis sauritus sauritus (Linne) 

 Ribbon Snake 



Description. — A slender snake attaining a length of two and a half feet 

 or more. Largest adult Ohio specimen ( 9 ), 28 inches in length; smallest 

 newly born juvenile, 8 inches. Head small but distinct from neck. Eye large. 

 Head plates normal. Two nasals, the nostril lateral and between them. One 

 loreal. Body elongate; tail long and slim and varying from 28.5% to 33.4%, 

 average 30.4% of the total length. 



Dorsal scale rows 19-17, the scales keeled. Upper labials 7, occasionally 

 8; lower labials 10, occasionally 9, rarely 8 or 11. Oculars 1-3, occasionally 

 1-4. Temporals 1 in the first row and 2, or occasionally 3, in the second row. 



