C^OTALOPHORUS. 11 



scale is of the same uniform tint to its base, and not showing two 

 colours as in other species. 



Fort mh.tcrSLEUa | ^g^ ^5. 29. 33i. 3. Col. J. D. Graham. 

 del (Jobre, iv. Mex. ) 



Genus CROT AliOPHOMTS, Gray. 



Gen. Char. Upper surface of the head covered with nine large 

 plates, as seen in Coluber and allied genera. The tail terminates in 

 a rattle, generally smaller than in Crotalus. A deep pit between 

 the eye and nostril, as in Crotalus. Subcaudal scutella) entire, except 

 a few at the end of the tail, which are bifid. 



Syn. Crotalophorus, Gray, Ann. Philos. 1825, 205. 



I. Crotalopliorus iniliarius, Holbr.— Twenty-two or twenty- 

 three dorsal rows of scales, all of which are carinated, the lateral and first 

 row but slightly ; a vertebral brownish red line ; seven series of blotches, one 

 dorsal and three lateral, on each side, the uppermost of which is obsolete 

 and the lowest subject to irregularities. Vertical plate subcordiform, occipi- 

 tal oblong and elongated. A narrow white line commences at the lowest 

 point of the orbit and passes obliquely backward to the angle of the mouth. 



Syn. Crotalus miliarius, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 372. — Gm. L. Syst. Nat. ed. XIII, 

 I, iii, 1788. 1080.— Merk. Vers. Syst. Amph. 1820, 156.— Hael. Jour. Acad. 

 Nat. So. Phila. V, ii, 1827, 370. Holbr. N. Amer. Herp. II, 1838, 73 PL xv. 



Caudisona miliarius, Wagl. Syst. Amph. 1830, 176. 



Crotalopliorus miliarius, Holbr. N. Amer. Herp. 2d. ed. Ill, 1842, 25. PI. iv. 



Vipera Caudisona americana minor. Catesb. Nat. Hist. Carol. II, 1743, 42, 

 PI. xiii. 



Ground Piattlesnake. 



Ground-color dark greyish ash, minutely mottled. A series of 

 thirty-eight to forty-five subcircular dorsal blotches extending from 

 head to tail, dark brown, each with a narrow distinct yellowish 

 border. Interval rather narrower than the spots themselves. A 

 broad band of purplish red passes from head to tail, through the 

 blotches. On each side may be distinguished three series of blotches, 

 the first on the first and second lateral rows of scales and partly on 

 the abdominal scutellae. The second alternating with this on the 

 second, third, fourth, and fifth rows of scales, and opposite the dorsal 



