944 16. CROTALIDA 
(Microtus californicus). Even when handled and worried 
the snake was unable to extricate himself from his bulging 
mouthful. At Bluff lake a rattler taken July 21, 1905, 
contained two chipmunks (Eutamias speciosus) tandemly 
aligned in the alimentary canal, nearer the cloacal opening 
of the snake than the mouth. The most posteriorly located 
chipmunk was approaching complete dissolution, much of 
the hair and bones, even having disappeared. Another rat- 
tler, only 26 inches long, taken on the upper Santa Ana June 
20, 1907, contained a 103¢ inch alligator lizard (Gerrhon- 
otus scincicauda), extended straight out in the snake’s ali- 
mentary canal. As is always the case, and of obvious neces- 
sity, the lizard had been swallowed head first.” 
It seems, however, that snakes do not always swallow 
their food head first. Dr. Barton Warren Evermann ex- 
amined a C. oreganus, killed in Yosemite Valley, and writes: 
“the rattler had a fine adult Merriam Chipmunk (Eutamias 
merriami) for its breakfast. And the rattler had swallowed 
it tail first!) The head of the chipmunk was towards the 
snake’s head, and its legs, tail and fur all lay back toward the 
snake’s tail, smooth and in perfect order. This surprised us 
very much. We could hardly see how the chipmunk could 
go down tail first without turning the tail, or some of the 
legs, or the fur, the other way. We could scarcely believe 
our own eyes; some of the party were even disposed to grant 
there had been an error in observation. But as all members 
of the party (there were six or seven of them) were agreed 
as to the fact, it is evident that this chipmunk had been 
swallowed tail first. 
“A few days later Dr. J. Grinnell sent me a photograph 
taken August 1, 1914, by Mr. Edward R. Warren, of Colo- 
rado Springs, which showed a gopher snake in the act of 
swallowing a chipmunk tail first only the head of the chip- 
munk remained exposed.” 
