456 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



series, aud lie shows conclusively that there is no difference between C. 

 mitehellii and G. pyrrhns in so far as scutellation is concerned. He 

 even goes so far as to assert that there is no color difference either, as 

 two of his specimens were ^'decidedly red." I have myself seen speci- 

 mens more or less suffused with vinaceous cinnamon or ochraceous- 

 rufous, but the color is essentially different from the red of the type 

 of C. pyrrhns, the status of which I, therefore, consider still unsettled. 



Geographical distribution. — Originally described from the Cape region 

 of Lower California from a specimen collected by Xantus and later 

 found in the same locality by Belding, it has but recently been discov- 

 ered in the Colorado and Mojave deserts of Southern California, those 

 from Colorado Desert being due to Mr. E. C. Orcutt's zeal, 



Habits. — This Species seems to be a distinctive desert form, but 

 beyond this nothing is known of its habits. 



The Red Rattlesnake. 

 CrotaJus MitcheUii })ijrrhus,* Cope. 



1866. — Caudisona; pijrrha, Cope, Proc. Phila. Acad., xviii, 1866, pp. 308, 310.— 

 Cope, iu Wheeler's Surv. West 100 Mer., v, p. 535 (1875). — COUES, in 

 Wheeler's Surv. West 100 Mer., v, p. 608 (lS7o).—Crotah(8 purrhiis, Cope, 

 Bull. U. S. Nat. Mu8., No. 1, Check-list, p. 33 (1875).— Cope, Wheeler's 

 Surv. West 100 Mer., v, pi. xxn (1875).— Cope, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 

 XIV, 1891 (No. 882), p. 694 (1892).— Yarrow, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 

 24, Check-list, p. 73 (1883).— Garman, N. Am. Kept., i, Ophid., p. 114 

 (1883). — Stejneger, W. Amer, Scieut., \ii, April, 1891 (publ. .Tnue), p. 

 165 (in part). 



1883. — CrotaJus vonjiiivnlun, var. pyrrlnis, Garman, N. Am. Kept., i, Ophid., p, 

 173. 



1884. — Crotaliis coiijliu'iitus (B), Garman, List, N. Am. Kept. Batr., p. 34. 



Fitjiires. — Wheeler's Survey West 100 Mer., \ , pi. xxii. 



The status of this form has been discussed under the head of C. miteh- 

 ellii. It may be well to remark that so far only one specimen of this 

 highly colored form has been obtained, and that the suspicion seems 

 well founded that it is but little more than an individual variation. 



Description.^ — Scales in 25 series, broad and rounded, the 2 inferior 

 rows smooth. Head short and very obtuse, the nostrils opening sub- 

 vertically. Sui)erior labials higher than long, '6 rows of temporals 

 smooth ; scales of vertex small, keeled ; those more anterior, striate. 

 Superciliaries (supraoculars) broad oval, striate. Canthus rostralis 

 none. Inferior labials 15, the first aud second nuirgining a ])late which 

 meets its fellow in front of the geneials (chin-shields), aud is in other 

 species a continuation of the first. Gastrosteges (ventrals), 178; uros- 

 teges (subcaudals), 24; joints of rattle, 1>. The general tint of this 



* From the Greek nvjipog (pyrrhos), flame-colored, reddish. 



t Original description by E. I). Cope in Proc. Phila. Acad., 1866, pp. 308, 310 from 

 type specimen, U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 6606. 



