116 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



Specimens were collected in every- month from April to November inclu- 

 sive. More were taken in May than in any other month but the data show a 

 fairly even distribution over the summer months. A specimen, apparently in 

 hibernation, was accidentally discovered near Crissey, Lucas County, April 18, 

 1935. A blue racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) which was pursued by 

 some farmers disappeared down a hole near a bush. In digging for this snake 

 a large massasauga was unearthed among the roots some 18 inches below the 

 surface in soil which was a mixture of sand and peat. Since the weather up 

 to this time had been consistently cool, it was presumed the two snakes had 

 hibernated in this place. 



A large portion of the food consists of mice. An adult specimen in the 

 Ohio Museum from Buckeye Lake, Licking County, had a very large meadow 

 mouse (Microtus p. pennsylvanicus) in its stomach. Several individuals from 

 the Mt. Victory locality disgorged mice shortly after they were captured and 

 young ones had swallowed mice so large it must have taxed their abilities to 

 the limit. Ditmars (1936, 345) states that his specimens "would take young 

 birds, mice and frogs, and, like the copperhead snake, different kinds of food 

 according to the seasons." Ruthven (1911, 270) states "Frogs were found in 

 the stomachs of some of the individuals taken, and these probably form the 

 bulk of the food." The same author also found two instances of snakes 

 having been eaten (one a rattlesnake) and it appeared that they had been 

 dead for some time before they were consumed. Captives in the zoo ate white 

 mice which usually died within a very few minutes after being bitten. Follow- 

 ing a brief inspection with the tongue tips they usually were swallowed head 

 first. 



Massasaugas bear living young. A female 20% inches in length collected 

 near Mt. Victory, July 6, 1931, gave birth to 7 young August 6, 1931. These 

 varied from 8% to 9y^ inches in length; all shed their skins within 48 hours 

 after birth. Their fangs were well developed and at the age of 4 days two of 

 them killed a mouse each, which had been placed in the cage to serve as food 

 for the mother. The mice were removed for observation as soon as they 

 were bitten. They were still alive several hours later but both were dead the 

 following morning. Atkinson and Netting (1927, 42) indicate "that from 

 five to nine young are produced late in July or early in August," but Swan- 

 son (1933, 37) gives the dates of birth as from August 15 to September 10. 

 A specimen in the Northwestern University collection contained 12 embryos. 



Crotalus horridus horridus Linne 

 Timber Rattlesnake; Banded Rattlesnake 



Description. — The largest poisonous snake occurring in Ohio. Lafge 

 adults average 31/2 to 4 feet in length although a six foot specimen is on 

 record (Ditmars, (1936, 367). Largest adult Ohio specimen ( 5 ), 47 inches 

 in length, but there are authentic reports for Ohio individuals as large as 56 

 inches. The smallest newly bom juvenile (possibly somewhat premature), 

 7% inches. 



