CROCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 



1165 



of dorsal scales; on the back, where they cross, the lines are confluent 

 for a breadth of Ave or six scales, making a series of transverse lines 

 across the back, truncating the obtuse angles of the rhomboids, which 

 would otherwise be produced. Sometimes the acute lateral angle of 

 the rhomboids are also truncated. Laterally, the yellowish lines are 

 more or less obsolete, leaving a more or less distinct chain pattern. 

 Tiie ihomboids or subrhomboids inclosed have a narrow margin of dark 

 brown, lighter toward the center. In all cases the interval between 

 the successive rhomboids is but one or two half scales in width. The 

 lateral rhomboids and triangles referred to in G. a. adamanteus are indi- 

 cated by two alternating series of dark brown blotches, the tirst along 

 the third and fourth lateral row, oj)posite the apices of the rhomboids; 

 the second along the sixth and seventh, and alternating with the 



Fig. 334. 

 CkOTALUS ADAJIANTECS ATROX BaIBD and GlRAKD. 



= 1. 



Brown County, Texas. 



Collection of K. D. Cope. 



same; the spots occupy one scale, or part of four contiguous ones. Space 

 between these rhomboids and the yellowish lines is dull yeHowish brown. 

 Beneath nearly uniform yellowish, slightly clouded on the sides of the 

 scales. On the tail the blotches are confluent into three or six dark 

 brown lialf rings, interrupted on the under surface. (Jeneral distribu 

 tion of lines on the head nnich as in C a. adamanteus; a narrow light line 

 from the posterior end of the superciliary backward, directly to the 

 angle of the mouth; a second from the anterior extremity, nearly par- 

 allel with the tirst, the two inch)singan indistinct patch, and separated 

 on the labials by four and one-half scales. There is also a single narrow 

 light line across the superciliary obsolete in old specimens. 



