426 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



are alike in that respect. lu all of tlieni the snout is coveieil above 

 with large shields, which sometimes extend to between tlie orbits, but 

 their number and mutual relation is very variable, and often they are 

 more or less separated by small scales. The size and shape of the ros- 

 tral also varies, and the rows of scales between eye and labials vary 

 between 4 and G. 



The coloration of this undoubtedly our most beautifnlly tinted crotalid 

 is more stable. The chief variations consist in the greater or lesser 

 degree of definition of the spots, and in the color of the tail, which in 

 most specimens is solidly blackish though in a few it presents alter- 

 nating cross bands of black and light color. 



Geographical <listriImfion. — In the main the range of C. molossus, at 

 least within the borders of the United States, coincides with that of C. 

 lepidus, being- confined to the States and Territories bordering" upon the 

 Mexican frontier. 



It was first described from a specimen collected at Santa Rita del 

 Cobre, near the present Fort Bayard, in JSTew Mexico, and not far from 

 that locality it has since been taken by Prof. Cope. Henshaw procured 

 it in southern Arizona, probably not far from Fort Buchanan, Avheuce 

 the Museum got a specimen from Dr. Irwin, while quite recently Dr. 

 Thimothy E. Wilcox has sent it from Fort Huachuca. Two siiecimens, 

 collected by Dr. E. Coues on San Francisco Mountain, Arizona, were 

 identified by Cope as the present species. C. lepidus has not been found 

 so far from the Mexican boundary. The range into Mexico is uidi;nowu. 



The Texan specimen, upon whicli Hallowell based the C. ornatus, was 

 collected by Dr. Heermann at the Pecos River, en route between El 

 Paso and San Antonio, and is so far the only specimen obtained in 

 Texas. 



Hahits. — Nothing is known of its habits, except that it is found 

 among rocks. 



The Banpkd Rattlesnake. 



Crolaliis horridun,* Liuua^us. 



Plate 9. 



• 1758. — Crotalun horridui^, Linx.eus, Syst. Nat., 10 ed., i, p. 214*. — Linn.eus, Syst. 

 Nat., 12 ed., i, p. 372 (1766).— Lf.Conte, Pror. Pliila. Acad., 1853 (p. 

 417).— Cope, Proc. Pliila. Acad., 18.59, p. 338.— Cope, Bull. U. S. Nat. 

 Mus.,No. 1, Check-list, p. 33 (1875).— Cope, in Wheeler's Surv. W. 100 

 Mer., V, p. 534 (1875).— Cope, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., xiv, 1891 (No. .382), 

 p. 693 (1892).— Yarrow, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 24, Check List, pp. 12, 

 74 (1883).— Cragin, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sc, vii, p. 121 (1881).— Gar- 

 man, N. Am. Rept. Batr., i, Ophid., pp. 115, 174, pi. ix, fig. 1 (1883).— 

 Garman, List. N. Am. Rept. Batr., p. 35 (1884). — True, in Hanmiond's 

 .South Carolina, p. 235 (1883).— Davis and Rice, Bull. 111. State Lab. 

 Nat. Hist., I, No. 5, 1883 (p. 27).— Davis and Rice, Bull. Chic. Acad. 

 Sc, I, p. 28 (1883).— Hay, Anipli. Rept. Indiana, p. 13 (1885).— Hay, 

 Batr. Rept. Indiana, p. 128 (1893).— .Iordan, Man. Vert. North. U. S.,5 



* From the Latin horridua, horrible, terrible. 



