200 NEW YORK, ZOOLOGICAL SOCIEDY 
On many of the dorsal scales the apices of the striae are black 
and shining. The effect produced, if examined closely, is that of 
a black snake, coated with blue-gray dust and lightly rubbed here 
and there, thus removing the covering from the raised keels of 
the scales. The skin between the scales is of the same gray tint 
as the latter. The possibility of albinism in this specimen has 
been fully considered, and is believed to have no bearing upon the 
case. 
Dimensions.—That this specimen represents a small species is 
indicated by the uniform character of the joints of the rattle—five 
in number—as compared to the size of the snake. The measure- 
ments of the type specimen are as follows: 
Total length, 27% inches. 
Length of tail (not including rattle), 2% inches. 
Diameter thickest part of body, 1% inches. 
Width of head, 1 inch. 
Length of head, 13 inches. 
AN UNUSUAL VARIATION OF CROTALUS 
EUCIPER: 
By RAYMOND L. DITMARS, 
CURATOR OF REPTILES. 
MONG a series of living snakes deposited in the Park by 
the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, through Mr. 
George Englehardt, is a peculiar specimen of Crotalus lucifer, 
from Beaver County, Utah. 
The pattern of this snake is so unusual it seems worthy of par- 
ticular notice, together with an illustration of the specimen, as 
an example of interesting variation. The author refrains from 
proposing a varietal name until a series of specimens can be pro- 
cured which will demonstrate the constancy of a subspecies, pro- 
vided it actually exists. 
Description—General ground color pale, greenish-gray. In 
place of the dark, subquadrate blotches, narrowly bordered with 
black, as they exist on typical specimens, there are solid, sooty- 
black patches, in some of which the tips of a few scales are tinged 
with the ground color. Posteriorly, these markings assume a 
vividly ringed appearance. Each of the lateral blotches are rep- 
resented by single scales tinged with black. The dark band from 
the orbit to the angle of mouth is almost obsolete, and lacks the 
