ANNOTATED LIST OF A COLLECTION OF REPTILES FROM 



SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NORTHERN LOWER 



CALIFORNIA. 



By SETH EUGENE MEEK, Ph. D. 



The following paper is based on a collection of Reptiles obtained 

 by Mr. Edmund Heller in southern California and northern Lower 

 California. A very complete account of the region in question, 

 accompanied by maps, is given by Professor D. G. Elliot in his papers* 

 on the Mammals collected by Mr. Heller in this same area. Mr. 

 Heller has furnished the writer valuable field notes, which have here 

 been incorporated; these notes are indicated by quotation marks. 



I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. L. Stejneger, 

 Curator of Reptiles in the U. S. National Museum, for assistance in 

 identifying a large portion of this collection. 



One species of Crotalus, from Tombstone, Arizona, is also described 

 as new in this paper. 



Family Testudiiiidas 



Clemmys marmorata (Baird & Girard). PACIFIC TERRAPIN. 



"This species is not rare in ponds along the Mojave River." No 

 specimens were secured. 



i 



Qopherus agassizii (Cooper). DESERT TORTOISE. 



Six specimens of this species were secured north of Daggett, in the 



~~ Calico mining district. "They had apparently just emerged from 



- their winter hibernation, some being taken within a few feet of their 

 1 burrows. The burrows were usually made in light, gravelly soil, in 

 which they were sunk obliquely to a depth of about two feet. In 

 this locality (2,500 to 3,500 feet altitude) they were found on a 

 peculiar slate-colored soil in the lower part of the tree yucca zone. 

 Soon after a shower they are said to be usually common, but during 

 the hottest months, when most of the vegetation is dormant, they 

 retreat to their burrows and hibernate." 



*Field Col. Mus. Pub. Zool. Ser. Vol. Ill, 199-206, 271-283. 



3 



