APPENDIX. 303 
plains on each side of the Columbia river;* I also saw 
them on the Tobacco plains, between the Kootanie 
river and the Galton mountains, and in the Flathead 
valley, which is about 4,199 feet above the sea level. 
They live on the dry sandy plains, and run so much 
like a mouse that I have often been deceived, and 
taken them for small mammals. They live in holes 
generally at the roots of a wild sage (the Artemesia) 
bush, and are perfectly harmless, although their looks 
sadly belie them. I have frequently taken them in 
my hand, and they neither bite or attempt to use 
their spines for defensive purposes. I obtained another 
species, much larger than this, on the sand plains near 
the Klamath Lakes, that does not appear to range as 
far north as this smaller species. —Vide P. cornutum. 
OPHIDIA—THE SERPENTS. 
CROTALUS LUCIFER. (Baird and Girard.) 
The Western Rattlesnake. 
The Rattlesnake, I believe I may safely say, is never 
found west of the Cascade range, neither is it in any 
great abundance north of the Columbia river; but at 
the Dalles, the Snake, Pelouse, and Spokan rivers, 
indeed I may say at every station along the entire Bndy. 
Line, and high up on the slopes of the Rocky 
Mountains its name is legion. I have often, when 
climbing a sunny hill-side, seen a rattlesnake coiled 
up on nearly every ledge and flat-lying stone. Speci- 
mens obtained at different localities vary very much 
in colour, both in the ground colour and mark- 
* Vide Vol. II. 
