THE FBINCIPAL SPECIES OE POISONOUS SNAKES 127 



series of scales between the supraoculars, 3 or 4 series of scales 

 between the eye and the labials ; 13 — 1() supralabials ; scales in 

 25 — 29 rows, dorsals strongly keeled ; ventrals 1(59 — 181 ; 24 — 32 

 subcaudals. 



Colour pale greyisli (U- brownish, witli a dorsal series of large 

 blackish rhomboidal spots ; a yellowish cross-line between the 

 eyes ; snout blackish ; end of tail usually black ; belly yellowish, 

 more or less spotted with brown or black. 



Total length may be as much as 8 feet (2,400 millimetres). 



Habitat : South-eastern United States, from North Carolina 

 to Florida and the mouths of the Mississippi. 



(5) C. horridus. — Supraoculars considerably narrower than the 

 space between them, which is covered by 3 — 8 longitudinal series 

 of small scales; 12 — 10 supralabials; body scales in 23 — 29 rows, 

 dorsals very strongly keeled ; 1()5 — 178 ventrals ; 19 — 29 sul)- 

 caudals. 



Colour greyish-brown, usually with a rusty vertebral stripe, 

 and V- or M -shaped blackish cross-bands ; head uniform above, 

 with a dark band from the eye to the angle of the mouth ; usually 

 a pair of roundish or triangular dark spots on the nape ; belly 

 yellowish, uniform or spotted with blackish ; end of tail blackish. 



Total length, 1,340 millimetres ; tail 135. 



Habitat : United States, from Massachusetts and Iowa to 

 Northern Florida and Texas. 



(G) C. tigris. — 13—15 supralabials ; scales in 23 or 25 rows, 

 dorsals strongly keeled ; 16(5 — l8l ventrals ; 2(5 — 46 subcaudals. 



Colour yellowish or pale brown, with a dorsal series of brown 

 spots and cross-bands posteriorly ; sides with smaller dark spots ; 

 belly yellowish, spotted with brown. 



Total length, 380 millimetres ; tail 50. 



Habitat : Southern California, Lower California, Nevada, 

 Colorado, Arizona, and Northern Mexico. 



(7) C. mitchelli. — 14—16 supralabials ; scales in 25 rows, 

 striated, dorsals strongly keeled ; 178 — 198 ventrals ; 24 — 26 

 subcaudals. 



