. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. 230 Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin Vol. 28, Art. 1 Other variation in T. r. radix shows no correlation with geography. In 61 speci- mens the anterior scale rows are 17 in 2 per cent of specimens, 19 in 80 per cent, 20 in 5 per cent, and 21 in 13 per cent; scale rows at mid-body are 19 in 74 per cent, 20 in 3 per cent, and 21 in 23 per cent; posterior scale rows are 15 in 8 per cent, 16 in 3 per cent, 17 in 87 per cent, and 18 in 2 per cent. Variation in head scutellation for these 61 snakes is as follows: supralabials 6 + 6 in 1 per cent,
. Bulletin. Natural history; Natural history. 230 Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin Vol. 28, Art. 1 Other variation in T. r. radix shows no correlation with geography. In 61 speci- mens the anterior scale rows are 17 in 2 per cent of specimens, 19 in 80 per cent, 20 in 5 per cent, and 21 in 13 per cent; scale rows at mid-body are 19 in 74 per cent, 20 in 3 per cent, and 21 in 23 per cent; posterior scale rows are 15 in 8 per cent, 16 in 3 per cent, 17 in 87 per cent, and 18 in 2 per cent. Variation in head scutellation for these 61 snakes is as follows: supralabials 6 + 6 in 1 per cent, 6 + 7 in 1 per cent, 7 + 7 in 73 per cent, 7 + 8 in 22 per cent, 8 + 8 in 3 per cent; infralabials 8 + 8 in 2 per cent, 8 + 9 in 3 per cent, 9 + 9 in 22 per cent, 9+10 in 27 per cent, and 10 + 10 in 46 per cent; preoculars are 1 + 1 in 98 per cent, 1 + 2 in 2 per cent; postoculars 1 + 1 in 3 per cent, 2 + 2 in 3 per cent, 2 + 3 in 3 per cent, and 3 + 3 in 91 per cent. Light occipital dots are present on 87 per cent. A specimen from Douglas County (INHS 3009) is anomalous, inasmuch as the lateral stripes encroach on the second scale rows as well as the third and fourth. Habits.—The eastern plains garter snake is best known in vacant lots of cities and villages in the state. Comparatively few specimens have been found in remote areas. In the spring, this snake abounds in trashy areas and in meadows and pastures near vil- lages. On wet or cool days, several indi- viduals may congregate under a single ob- ject. Most individuals do not try to bite when captured, but they throw fecal matter that apparently consists largely of digested earthworms. Numerous specimens have been observed eating earthworms. These snakes may eat amphibians and other inver- tebrates also; captives have displayed no interest in insects. Broods of 10, 10, 12, 13, 17, and 27 have been born in the laboratory, most of them in late August. A female killed at Volo on Oc- tober 14 had 12 fully formed young still
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