116 E. E. Brown 



Snakes examined were from Brunswick, Columbus, Davidson, Jackson, 

 Mecklenburg and Watauga cos., NC, and Hampton Co., SC. 



Thamnophis sauritus sauntus, Eastern Ribbon Snake. 



Thirteen stomachs yielded 14 relatively small amphibians: 11 anurans 

 (3 Acris gryllus, 2 Pseudacris tnseriata fenarum, 1 Pseudacris brimleyi, 2 Hyla 

 femoralis, 1 Hyla sp., 1 just-metamorphosed Rana catesbeiana, 1 Bufo sp.); 

 and 3 salamanders (2 Desmognathus fuscus, 1 Eurycea bislineata). 



Snakes examined were from Ashe, Brunswick, Cabarrus, Jones and 

 Mecklenburg cos., NC and Colleton and Lee cos., SC. 



Virginia striatula, Rough Earth Snake. 



Forty specimens contained only remains of earthworms. In 15 of these 

 specimens the evidence consisted of dark, earthy material, plus setae in 

 the intestine. 



Snakes were from Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Guilford, Mecklen- 

 burg and Rowan cos., NC. 



Virginia valeriae valenae, Eastern Earth Snake. 



Two of seven specimens examined contained only earthworm remains. 

 The snakes were from Mecklenburg Co., NC, and Kershaw Co., SC. 



Heterodon platyrhinos, Eastern Hognose Snake. 



Toads were the only food I found in this snake. Five stomachs, all from 

 Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, contained 6 Bufo woodhousei fowleri. 

 One snake, 40 cm TL and weighing 26 gm, had just swallowed a toad 

 weighing 29 gm, a truly gigantic meal. 



Diadophis punctatus, Ringneck Snake. 



These snakes feed largely upon small, slender-bodied prey, difficult to 

 detect by palpation. Twelve stomachs contained 12 food items: 9 

 salamanders (3 Plethodon jordani "metcalfi , \ 1 P. anereus, 1 P. glutinosus, 1 

 Eurycea quadridigitata, 3 undetermined); and 3 earthworms. All stomachs 

 (8) from the mountain region contained salamanders; the earthworms 

 were in 3 of 4 Coastal Plain snakes. One mountain specimen contained a 

 small lepidoptera larva (phalaenid = "noctuid") along with a salaman- 

 der. The salamander might have disgorged the insect larva, but I could 

 not be certain of this. 



Specimens were from Alexander, Avery, Caldwell, Columbus, Duplin, 

 Macon, and Watauga cos., NC, and Dorchester Co., SC. 



Carphophis amoenus amoenus, Eastern Worm Snake. 



Seven stomachs yielded only earthworms; 16 others had dark, earthy 

 material and earthworm setae in the intestines. 



