THE REPTILES OF OHIO 243 



posterior temporal in each of the three larger snakes from Defiance County 

 and in one juvenile (the other four have two each), whereas all other Ohio 

 specimens have either two or three posterior temporals. Second, the ventral 

 counts are quite low, varying from 118 to 123; with a mean of 119.8 (in the 

 three adults the counts are 119, 119 and 120); only one other Ohio specimen 

 has fewer than 120 (119), and the mean for all the rest of the Ohi::> material 

 (38 specimens) is 125.2. 



For comparative purposes, Hartweg has very kindlv furnished me with 

 scale counts for nine occipttomaculata from Oakland, Livingston, and Wash- 

 tenaw counties in southern Michigan. Among these the ventrals vary from 

 113 to 131 (mean 122.7); two specimens have only one posterior temporal on 

 each side of the head and another has one on one side and two on the other. 

 The population samples from both southern Michigan and Defiance County, 

 Ohio, are too small to permit definite conclusions, hut they are similar in that 

 individuals from both groups h.ave single posterior temporals ard the ventrals 

 average less than in the populations inhabiting eastern and southern Ohio. 



Two females, one from Geauga County and on? from Pike County, have 

 only 39 subcaudals, a lower number than has previously been recorded from 

 Ohio. 



Gosner (1942) has reported "lip curling" in this species similar to that 

 which I have described for Haldea (= Virginia) on page 96. 



Haldea valeriae valeriae (Baird and Girard) 

 Eastern Ground Snake 



(Page 94; maps 22 and 59; plate 12, fio. 3) 



Stejneger and Barbour, in the fourth edition of their check list (1939), 

 combined into a single genus the species of snakes previously known as 

 Potamophis striatulus and Virgn,ia valeriae. These thev assigned to Haldea 

 of Baird and Girard (1853, 122), evidently giving that generic designation 

 preference over Virginia of the same authors (loc. cit., 127) on the basis of 

 page priority. Hence the ground snake is now known as Haldea valeriae 

 valeriae. 



This diminutive serpent evidently is not particularly rare in some parts of 

 southern Ohio. Two more counties may be added to the list, and several 

 additional specimens have been collected in Scioto County. New records are: 



Adams County: Smoky Creek, near Rome (CSNH 2651 A-B). Pike County: 



(DPLM 153.42); P,ke Lake (DPLM 588.44); Pike State Forest (WED 405). 

 Scioto Counts-: Bear Lake, Shawnee State Forest (WED 252); Roosevelt Game 

 Preserve (OSM 541, 662, 902.1-2); Shawnee State Forest, Nile Twp. (OSM 865; 



OWU). 



Johnson has been successful in finding a nunvber of Haldea in Ohio, and 

 the following data are summarized from habitat notes made upon eLven sp'ci- 

 mens that he encountered in the Shawnee State Forest and on the Roosevelt 

 Game Preserve. Three were found dead on the road in the early morning; 

 the road in each case was flanked by woods. One other specimen was in thi 



