CROTALUS DURISSUS. 1a 
passing from the eye to the commissure of the mouth. The neck and body are 
pale ash colour, with a vertebral line of yellow, including three scales; behind the 
occiput on each side of this line is an oblong dark spot. The body is marked 
with a triple series of dark irregular blotches and bars along the back. In front 
the blotches of the vertebral series are oblong transversely, widely emarginate 
before and behind; they vary, however, in shape, near the middle of the body; 
they resemble chevrons, with an acute angle towards the head; beneath the termi- 
nations of these spots on the flanks is a row of sub-quadrate dark spots; near the 
tail the vertebral and lateral series unite to form a band, and between these there 
is another row of obsolete grey spots. The abdomen is dirty reddish-straw 
colour, freckled with minute black dots. 
Dimensions. Lenoth of head, 1% inches; greatest breadth of head, 14 inches; 
t=) 3 f=) r] 
lenoth of body, 40 inches; length of tail, 34 inches; length of nine rattles, 2 inches; 
fan) a | ’ to) b) So ’ 
total length, 474 inches; greatest circumference of body, 6 inches. ‘The specimen 
described had one hundred and seventy-seven large broad plates on the abdomen, 
and twenty-five under the tail. 
Hasrrs. The Crotalus durissus lives on rabbits, squirrels, rats, &c., and in 
general is a remarkably slow and sluggish animal, lying quietly in wait for his 
prey, and neyer wantonly attacking nor destroying animals, except as food, 
unless disturbed by them, A single touch, however, will effect this; even rustling 
the leaves in his neighbourhood is sufficient to irritate him. On these occasions 
he immediately coils himself, shakes his rattles violently in sign of rage, and 
strikes at whatever is placed within his reach. In his native woods one may 
pass within a few feet of him unmolested; though aware of the passenger’s 
presence, he either lies quiet or glides away to a more retired spot—unlike some 
of the innocent snakes that I have known attack passers-by at certain seasons of 
the year. He never follows the object of his rage, whether an animal that has 
unwarily approached so near as to touch him, or only a stick thrust at him to 
provoke his anger, but strikes on the spot, and prepares to repeat the blow, or he 
may slowly retreat like an unconquered enemy, sure of his strength, but not 
