106 
Robert E. Herrington 
Snakes in their first full season of activity were better represented 
in spring samples because they became progressively more difficult to 
locate as vegetation density increased from spring to summer. However, 
during 1977, specimens from 23 to 33 cm SVL were collected between 
March and August and are considered to represent first-year individuals. 
Growth rates from recaptures (n = 4) averaged 9.6 ± 4.1 cm per season 
(range 3.8 to 13.6 cm). 
An additional cohort was apparent in the spring with SVLs ranging 
from 39 to 53 cm. These snakes were approximately 19 months old and 
beginning their second full season of activity. Growth appears to be 
rapid during this period, but no recaptures were recorded for this size 
group. 
Specimens in their third full season of activity emerged with a 
modal SVL of 62 cm. Recaptured males (n = 2) grew at a rate of 4.0 to 
19.1 cm SVL per season (mean = 13.0 cm). Two females in this size class 
were recaptured; one had increased only 0.2 cm after 6 weeks, whereas 
the second had grown 3.8 cm SVL in 7 weeks (21.7 cm per season). 
Males in the next larger size class (n = 6) increased in SVL from 2 
to 4 cm per season (mean = 3.2 ± 1.8 cm), while females in the same 
cohort (n = 3) maintained growth rates that averaged 12.2 ± 2.8 cm per 
season. A reduction in female growth rates with the attainment of 
sexual maturity is suggested by data on recaptures. Growth of three 
measured in their fourth season of activity ranged from 8.8 to 13.6 cm 
SVL per season (mean = 1 1.0 ± 2.4 cm). In the next larger size class (n = 
4) growth was reduced to 3.2 to 6.4 cm SVL per season (mean = 5.7 + 2.0 
cm). 
Reproduction. In central Georgia, males are sexually mature when 
they emerge from their third period of hibernation and are approximately 
58 cm SVL. All males in this or larger size classes (n = 13) had 
spermatozoa present in the ductus deferens irrespective of the month in 
which they were collected. Spermatozoa were much more numerous in 
late fall and spring than at other times of the year. This agrees with 
observations of Mitchell and Zug (1984) for N. taxispilota in Virginia. 
Two slightly smaller males (53 and 56 cm SVL) collected during 
September had traces of sperm in their ductus deferens. Thus, size at 
maturity of males from central Georgia is comparable to the 50.3-cm 
size at maturity in Virginia (White et al. 1982). 
Females are sexually mature between 85 and 90 cm SVL. The 
largest immature female (92.5 cm SVL) was collected during August, 
and the smallest mature female (86.0 cm SVL) gave birth in captivity. 
The minimum size at maturity observed during this study (86 cm SVL) 
is larger than that reported by White et al. (1982) for this species in 
Virginia (72.5 cm SVL). During late summer a total of 12 females (70-80 
