312 University of California Pxiblicaiions in Zoology [Vol. 21 



SUMMARY 



The first specimen of Phyllorhynchus decurtatus reported from 

 California lived in captivity from March 25 to July 20, 1921, The 

 snake showed a marked tendency to hide itself in the sand. It could 

 creep in by side movements of the head and body. Complete burial 

 by this process required from two to three and a half minutes. It 

 made several attempts to dig a hole by scooping out a hollow in the 

 sand. Apparently it can dig a burrow for itself under a rock. 



Light rather than temperature seemed to be the controlling factor 

 leading it to hide in the sand. Under electric light and in direct 

 sunlight the snake drew back into shadow. Under red light the snake 

 showed no reaction to differences in temperature. When the heating 

 effects of sunlight were cut out to a large extent by using a blue filter 

 the snake showed marked stimulation, regardless of high or low tem- 

 perature or of contrasted temperatures. 



Insects crawling on the ho&y and liquid placed on the snout also 

 brought about the reflex of hiding in the sand. 



Food was persistently rejected except for some beaten egg, and 

 that was licked off the snout and swallowed only when the snake 

 could not reach a surface against which to rub it off. Several times 

 a few drops of water were drunk from the end of a pipette or from 

 a surface. 



LITERATURE CITED 



Atsatt, S. E. 



1921. A snake new to California. Copeia, no. 96, 38-39. 



Cope, E. D. 



1900. The erocodilians, lizards and snakes of North America. Ann. Rep. 

 U. S. Nat. Mus., 1898, pt. 2, pp. 151-1294, 36 pis., 347 figs, in text. 



DiTMARS, E. L. 



1912. The feeding habits of serpents. Zoologica, 1, 197-238, 13 figs, in text. 



Transmitted November 17, 1922. 



