ANNOTATED LIST OF A COLLECTION OF REPTILES FROM 



SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NORTHERN LOWER 



CALIFORNIA. 



By SETH EUGENE MEEK, Ph. D. 



The following paper is based on a collection of Reptiles obtained 

 by Mr. Edmund Heller in southern California and northern Lower 

 California. A very complete account of the region in question, 

 accompanied by maps, is given by Professor D. G. Elliot in his paj^ers* 

 on the Mammals collected by Mr. Heller in this same area. Mr. 

 Heller has furnished the writer valuable field notes, which have here 

 been incorporated ; these notes are indicated by quotation marks. 



I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr. L. Stejneger, 

 Curator of Reptiles in the U. 8. National Museum, for assistance in 

 identifying a large portion of this collection. 



One species of Crotalus, from Tombstone, Arizona, is also described 

 as new in this paper. 



Family TeKtiidiiiithe. 



Clemmys marmorata (Baird & Girard). Pacific Terrapin'. 



"This species is not rare in ponds along the Mojave River." No 

 specimens were secured. 



Gopherus agassizii (Cooper). Desert Tortoise. 



Six specimens of this species were secured north of Daggett, in the 

 Calico mining district. "They had apparently just emerged from 

 their winter hibernation, some being taken within a few feet of their 

 burrows. The burrows were usually made in light, gravelly soil, in 

 which they were sunk obliquely to a depth of about two feet. In 

 this locality (2.500 to 3,500 feet altitude) they were found on a 

 peculiar slate-colored soil in the lower part of the tree yucca zone. 

 Soon after a shower they are said to be usually common, but during 

 the hottest months, when most of the vegetation is dormant, they 

 retreat to their burrows and hibernate." 



*Field Col. Mus. Pub. Zool. Ser. Vol. Ill, 199-206, 271-283. 



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