THE REPTILES OF OHIO 115 



Whitehouse. Marion County: Bowling Green Twp. (TZS 609 — melanisfic). 

 Paulding County: Charloe, Brown Twp. (OEE) ; 7 mi. E of Paulding (OEE). 

 Seneca County: Near Attica (TZS 772); Venice Twp. (TZS 989, 1220). Stark 

 County: Near Hartville (OSM 439.1). Trumbull County: (USNM 545 prob- 

 ably originally melanistic) ; Bloomfield (TZS 2273-5) : Warren (USNM 526, 543-4— 

 probably originally melanistic). Wayne CoUN'Ti': Kauke, Franklin Twp. (TZS 394). 

 Wyandot County: Mifflin Twp. (TZS 597, 668-70). 



Habitat and Habits. — While the massasauga is probably less abundant 

 than formerly it is still a common snake in many parts of Ohio. In the New 

 Haven Marsh, which lies partially in Seneca, Huron, Crawford and Richland 

 Counties it is common enough so that specimens are frequently seen and cases 

 of snake bite are not rare. Yet many natives of this area pay little attention 

 to it. A family of Georgia "crackers" imported to work on the celery farms 

 of the district, reported that a rattler crawled under the cement slab which 

 served as a doorstep to their ramshackle home. When the slab was over- 

 turned five massasaugas were found hiding beneath it! The family showed 

 little concern over the matter despite the fact that a dozen or so barefooted 

 children played about the yard daily. 



Near Mt. Victory in Hardin County the massasauga is also common. It 

 apparently hibernates in and near the marshy remnants of a former swamp 

 forest but spreads out over the surrounding farming country during the sum- 

 mer. It often hides under the shocks of grain and Charles L. Burris of 

 Toledo, who formerly lived near Mt. Victory, is responsible for the statement 

 that as many as 27 were discovered and killed during the harvesting of some 

 40 acres of wheat. Numbers are killed during threshing time each year. 



That the massasauga is common in many places in Ohio is indicated by 

 the several series of museum specimens from single localities, and by the fact 

 that local residents in many different areas characterize it as abundant. The 

 original habitat of the massasauga in the state was probably the scattered prairies 

 of glaciated Ohio but agricultural activities have destroyed most of these. It 

 appears to be confined, more or less, to the vicinity of bogs and marshes and 

 other poorly drained areas, although it was not found in the most extensive 

 marshes of the state — those lying along the shores of Lake Erie to the east of 

 Toledo. Massasaugas must enter the water occasionally since at least two 

 were discovered coiled upon tufts of grass entirely surrounded by shallow 

 water. 



Almost every specimen collected was more or less lethargic, made little or 

 no attempt to bite and failed to sound its rattle. Several were nearly stepped 

 upon but did not move. When once aroused they struck repeatedly but the 

 rattle was seldom employed. 



Several massasaugas were found under boards, pieces of tar paper, etc. A 

 large number, however, were in the open. They were usually lying in a small 

 compact coil and unless the day was hot they were in the sun. 



Except in those areas where the massasauga is so abundant as to be a 

 public menace, bites from it are rare. Despite its small size, however, it is a 

 dangerous snake and should be treated with caution and respect. 



