Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology 33 



besides a smaller one. Three pregnant females brought back 

 alive gave birth to eight, ten and twelve young on August 25, 

 September 2 and September 10. 



Crotalus lucifer Baird and Girard. 



Five specimens from the Cortez Mountains. 



The five specimens are typical C. lucifer as it occurs in the 

 Great Basin. The ground color above is very pale, varying 

 from pale gray to light olivaceous, dorsal blotches pale brown. 

 The dorsal scale formula is 25-27-25-23-21 dnd 25-23-21-19, 

 the upper labials 14-16, the lower labials 15-16. The ventral 

 plates in three females are 183, 185, 188, and in a male 177; 

 the subcaudals in three females are 17, 18 and 19, in a male 21. 



This rattlesnake is not uncommon, in the general region 

 studied, according to the statements of the residents and our 

 observations. We observed it at various places in the Cortez 

 Range, a dead specimen was seen on the Southern Pacific 

 Railroad tracks in Moleen Canyon, and it was reported to be 

 ver\' common in a canyon near the station of Moleen. In this 

 region C. lucifer is primarily an inhabitant of the most rocky 

 places and four of the specimens were found on talus slopes, 

 but it is occasionally seen on the desert floor. A specimen was 

 killed on one of the ridges near the lower part of James Canyon 

 during our stay at that place, another in a cultivated field on 

 James Creek, and residents informed us that rattlesnakes are 

 occasionally observed in the Humboldt A'alley near the moun- 

 tains. The stomachs examined contained small mammals. 



Large females taken on July 6 and 10 contain large eggs 

 (36mm. long in one) upon which the embryonic area is visible. 



