BATRACHIANS AND REPTILES OF OHIO. 127 



when it will begin to hiss, inflate its body and extend its ribs 

 until it is a minature cobra. When teased it will strike, but the 

 stroke is but a half one, degenerating into a twist which sends 

 the body away from its apparent victim. When teased to an 

 extreme it will throw itself on its back after passing through a 

 series of contortions and frothing at the mouth. Once on its 

 back it lies as dead, without a motion and with open mouth. It 

 will remain thus until all is quiet, when with a sly twist it sur- 

 veys the surroundings and if no offender is near it silently flops 

 upon its belly and beats a hasty retreat. Should any intruder 

 appear it immediately throws itself upon its back again and feints 

 death anew. 



Its eggs are laid in the sand. They are about an inch long 

 and half an inch wide. It is very common in hilly and sandy 

 regions. By the countryman it is often confused with the copper- 

 head, which it resembles somewhat, or even it may be that the 

 dangerous copperhead is called blow- viper and held to be harm- 

 less, as the writer found to be the case among some farmers in the 

 eastern part of the State. In such cases it would be safer to 

 assume that all snakes were dangerous than to confuse poisonous 

 and non- poisonous. 



The food of the Blow- viper consists of mice, toads, frogs, 

 insects, etc. It is one of the most valuable reptiles to the farmer 

 owing to its food habits. 



Very common over the eastern and northern parts of the 

 State, rarer west. 



Specimens in the U. S. Nat. Mus., recorded by Cope from Marietta. In 

 the Cin. Soc. Nat. His., collected by Dr. Lindahl in Hamilton Co. In O. S. 

 U. Mus., by the author at Sandusky and Licking Co. 



Liopeltis vernalis De Kay. Uniform dark green above, lighter on 

 sides ; below yellowish white. Head long, marked off from body by a 

 slender neck. Eyes large. Scales smooth, 15. Length 20 inches. 



This snake is common over the State, but is seldom noticed 

 by one unless especially looking for it, as protective coloration is 

 carried to such a degree in it that it blends perfectly with the 

 surroundings. It is seldom seen in the daytime, but is to be found 

 at dusk or during the early evening hours when it goes in search 

 of food. Its food is largely made up of insects. 



