Financial assistance from the National Science Foundation in 1957
through 1962 is acknowledged. Although none of the three separate
grants involved was made specifically for the autecological study of
the racer, all three contributed to the support of the extensive
program of live-trapping for snakes, which yielded most of the records
upon which this report is based. Student assistants who were employed
on these projects include James W. Bee, William N. Berg, Donna M.
Hardy, Robert M. Hedrick, Dale Hoyt, Robert M. Packard, Robert G.
Webb, and Wayne Wiens, at the Reservation; Roy Henry, Dale Horst,
Dwight R. Platt, and Howard L. Schrag at Harvey County Park, and
Gilbert L. Adrian at Cedar Bluff Reservoir. Dr. Edwin P. Martin,
formerly of Fort Hays, Kansas State College, was helpful in planning
and carrying out the field work at Cedar Bluff Reservoir. Eric
Shulenberger assisted with field work and processing of data in 1962
under the National Science Foundation program for Undergraduate
Research Participation. Robert Miner assisted with the examination of
specimens in 1960. Mr. August Lalouette of Florence, Kansas, permitted
field work on his ranch and contributed information and materials to
expedite this work. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Brune of Route 3, Lawrence,
Kansas, kindly contributed several clutches of racer eggs found on
their farm in Jefferson County, and also made available significant
information accompanying them. Dr. William H. Stickel kindly made
available at my request records of predation on racers from the food
habits files of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dr. William E.
Duellman of the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History and Dr.
Robert C. Stebbins of the University of California Museum of
Vertebrate Zoology kindly permitted examination and dissection of
specimens in the collections under their care. Dr. George W. Byers of
the University of Kansas Department of Entomology identified numerous
insects eaten by racers. My daughter, Alice V. Fitch, often assisted
me with the field work and the processing of data. My wife, Virginia
R. Fitch, read the manuscript critically, assisted me with the
examination of museum specimens, and with typing, and helped in
various other ways.