CROCODILTANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 

 Croialua lepidus Kennicott. 



1193 



This is a i)ecnliarly handsome species and is the only one to which 

 the term "green rattlesnake*' can be correctly applied. In the airange- 

 ment of its dark colors it ai)proii(;hes nearer to the C. horridus of the 

 East than any other form. In the arrangement of its head scales it 

 approaches the C. polystictus. 



CROTALUS MITCHELLII Cope. 



Crotalus mitcheUi Cope, Wheeler's Rep. Surv. W. 100th Mer., V (1875), p. 535; 

 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIV, 1S92, p. 689.— Van Denburgh. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 

 (2), IV, 1894, p. 450.— Stk.jnegek, Rept. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1893 (1895), p. 454, 



pi. XVII. 



Candiso>ia mitcheUi Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci> Phila., 1861, p. 293; 1866. p. 310. 



Caudisona pi/rrha Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1866, p. 308. 



Crotalus pyrrhus Copk, Wheeler'.s Rep., p. 535, pi. xxii; Proc. U. S. Nat. Miis., 



XIV, 1892, p. 689.— Stejneger, W. Arner. Scieut., VII, 1891, p. 165. 

 Croialua confluentits v&t. pyrrhus Gar.man, N. Am. Rept., 1883, p. 173. 

 Crotalus oref/oncnsis var. mitcheUi Garman, N. Am. Rept., 1883, j). 173. 

 Crotalus mitcheUi Boulenger, Cat. Snakes iu Brit. Mus., Ill, 1896, p. 580. 



In this species the subdivision of the h -.id scales is carried further 

 than in any other. The rostral is separated from the nasal by one or 

 two series of scales, and there are from two to five loreals, the posterior 

 two representing the anterior parts of the preoculars of other species. 

 There is no distinct can thus rostralis, and the scales of its external 

 border are identical iu character with those that separate them on the 

 median part of the muzzle and front. All of these scales are rather 

 small and are striate. Six to eight rows separate the superciliaries. 

 The latter have a strongly convex external border. The muzzle is 

 short and wide, and the nostrils are somewhat vertical in position. 

 Three rows of scales separate the orbit from the labials. Superior and 

 inferior labials both fifteen, the first inferior divided transversely, so 

 that the postsymi)liyseal part is a separate element. The symphyseals 

 taken together corditbrm; rostral a triangle, a little wider than high. 

 Tlie scales of the body are in twenty three to twenty-five rows and are 

 rather obtuse. They differ little in size, except that the median five or 

 six rows are narrower. All are rather weakly keeled except the two 

 exterior. They are in addition finely striate ridged toward the base. 

 The rattle of the type specimen displays eight Joints and a button. 



The color above and below is grayish yellow. The upper surface of 

 the head is shaded, that of the body coarsely and densely punctnlated 

 with brown. The irregular aggregation and dcei)ness of these punctu- 



