crOtalus durissus. 11 



passing from the eye to the commissure of the mouth. The neck and body are 

 pale ash colour, with a vertebral line of yellow, including three scales; behind the 

 occiput on each side of this line is an oblong dark spot. The body is marked 

 with a triple series of dark irregular blotches and bars along the back. In front 

 the blotches of the vertebral series are oblong transversely, widely emarginate 

 before and behind; they vary, however, in shape, near the middle of the body; 

 they resemble chevrons, with an acute angle towards the head; beneath the termi- 

 nations of these spots on the flanks is a row of sub-quadrate dark spots; near the 

 tail the vertebral and lateral series unite to form a band, and between these there 

 is another row of obsolete grey spots. The abdomen is dirty reddish-straw 

 colour, freckled with minute black dots. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 1| inches; greatest breadth of head, li inches; 

 length of body, 40 inches; length of tail, 3i inches; length of nine rattles, 2 inches; 

 total length, 47? inches; greatest circumference of body, 6 inches. The specimen 

 described had one hundred and seventy-seven large broad plates on the abdomen, 

 and twenty-five under the tail. 



Habits. The Crotalus durissus lives on rabbits, squirrels, rats, &c., and in 

 general is a remarkably slow and sluggish animal, lying quietly in wait for his 

 prey, and never wantonly attacking nor destroying animals, except as food, 

 unless disturbed by them. A single touch, however, will effect this; even rustling 

 the leaves in his neighbourhood is sufficient to irritate him. On these occasions 

 he inamediately coils himself, shakes his rattles violently in sign of rage, and 

 strikes at whatever is placed within his reach. In his native woods one may 

 pass within a few feet of him umiiolested; though aware of the passenger's 

 presence, he either lies quiet or glides away to a more retired spot — unlike some 

 of the innocent snakes that I have known attack passers-by at certam seasons of 

 the year. He never follows the object of his rage, whether an animal that has 

 unwarily approached so near as to touch him, or only a stick thrust at him to 

 provoke his anger, but strikes on the spot, and prepares to repeat the blow, or he 

 may slowly retreat like an unconqucred enemy, sure of his strength, but not 



