BRANSON : SNAKES OF KANSAS. 425 



directed outward. Superciliaries large and irregular in shape, 

 small scales. Internasals triangular, the more acute angle 

 Prefrontals small, touching the internasals in front and the 

 superciliaries behind ; between the prefrontals are several 

 (3-7) small plates. The anterior nasals are small, rectangular, 

 in contact with the rostral in front. The posterior nasal con- 

 tains the nostril. It is smaller than the anterior and is sub- 

 circular. Rostral narrow and high. Supralabials 12-14, first 

 and fourth or fifth largest. Infralabials 13-17, first largest. 

 Two preoculars, lower generally crowded out of the orbit. It 

 usually reaches the pit. The upper preocular is larger than 

 the lower. Anterior to this are two or three small loreals. 

 The upper labials are separated from the eye by three rows of 

 scales. Postgenials not present. Gastrosteges 165-180. Uro- 

 steges 20-30. Anal entire. Subcaudals undivided. 



Ground color above yellowish to dark brown, maculated by 

 five rows of dark spots, generally confluent posteriorly. The 

 dorsal spots are large, about ten scales wide and five scales 

 long. Alternating with these is a row of very small spots gen- 

 erally covering a small portion of four scales. Opposite the 

 dorsal spots is a row of large diamond-shaped spots. These 

 slightly encroach upon the gastrosteges below. Alternating 

 with these is a row of small light-colored spots on the margin 

 of the gastrosteges. There are about twenty-one spots in each 

 row. The tail is black above, lighter below. The belly is whitish 

 in the middle with many small dark spots near the ends of the 

 gastrosteges. Labials mostly white ; 4-7 lower labials marked 

 with black. A dark band extends from the orbit around the 

 angle of the mouth. 



This species is not numerous in the eastern part of the state, 

 and I have no evidence of its occurrence in the western part. 

 The Banded Rattlesnake is exceeded in size only by the Dia- 

 mond Rattlesnake. The largest specimen in the Kansas Uni- 

 versity museum is fifty inches in length. Cope reports a 

 specimen five feet in length. The body is very thick. One in 

 the University museum is eight inches in circumference. 



C. horridus is called the Timber Rattlesnake because of its 

 preference for wooded districts. It sometimes climbs trees but 

 usually stays among rocks and fallen timber. It is sometimes 

 found far from timber in the open fields and prairies. It is 

 sluggish in its movements and does not strike unless irritated. 



