248 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



ing data pertinent to the ecology of this interesting snake. These he has sum- 

 marized in considerable detail (op. at., 63-5). In part, he states, "It is of 

 considerable interest to note that this population of a western species, a great 

 number of miles to the east of any previously known station, should occur in 

 what was once the most extensive single wet prairie area in Ohio. It also is 

 noteworthy that this snake has been able to survive drastic alteration of its 

 former habitat. The original prairie, now some of the most productive farm 

 land in the state, has been almost completely destroyed by cultivation and 

 grazing, and the former prairie vegetation is at present limited to remnants 

 along the roadsides and railroad rights of way and to a few restricted swales 

 which have proved difficult to drain. 



"The specimens from the immediate vicinity of Marion were taken along 

 railroads, particularly the New York Central System. The rights of way of 

 these are paralleled by broad shallow ditches which, having never been plowed 

 or grazed, support a luxuriant growth of prairie vegetation, probably not differ- 

 ing greatly from that which prevailed originally." 



Thomas also reports radix from cultivated fields, beneath a shock of oats, 

 near the grassy margin of a small artificial pond in the midst of a field, in or 

 near shallow prairie swales, ox-bows, etc. In summary he says, "All of the 

 foregoing localities are in the midst of a typical, flat, wet prairie country with 

 deep, black soils and sluggish mud-bottomed streams. Few of the specimens 

 of radix, however, were captured in typical prairie land. It will be noted, 

 rather, that all were in, or close to, prairie swnles or streams. This was also 

 true of the Montgomery Township specimen, which was found on the bank of 

 the Scioto River. No evidence of prairie habitat was noted in the vicinity, 

 but the river at this place has all the aspects of a typical prairie stream; it is 

 deep and sluggish, with few riffles and with mud banks and bottom. 



"The presence of this western snake in the prairies of Ohio, so far east 

 of any other known colony, would seem to constitute one of the most remark- 

 able examples of prairie relict vet recorded. There is always the possibility, of 

 course, that it may have been introduced by human means in historic times, 

 but this seems unlikely. Its very wide distribution throughout the prairie 

 area of western Marion and southern Wyandot counties would indicate that 

 the species has been established in the region for a long time." 



Of the several specimens found alive in the state, some were in the open, 

 sometimes on the prowl, but others were hidden beneath various objects. 

 Dates of collection ranged from March to September, inclusive. "Almost all 

 flattened their bodies considerably when they were alarmed or handled, and 

 most of them struck and attempted to bite repeatedly. Those kept captive ate 

 live earthworms, frogs, minnows, and chopped fish." 



Pope (1944, 208) states that the number of young in a litter may vary 

 from 6 to 40, and that the average is 20. Among forty-two new-born 

 babies (representing three broods from the Chicago area) length m.easure- 

 ments varied from 6% to 71/4 inches. The young are born in August or 

 September. 



