1912] Taylor: Birds and Reptiles of Northern Nevada. 347 



(4400 feet), 4; Quirni River Crossing (4100 feet); 10; Big Creek 

 Ranch and vicinity (4350 feet), 31; Alder Creek (5000 feet), 1; 

 Leonard Creek (4700 to 5000 feet), 6; Thousand Creek Flat 

 (5000 feet), 4. 



One of the commonest of the reptiles of the desert. As will 

 have been observed, we did not discover it at such great altitudes 

 as are recorded by C. Hart Merriam (in Stejneger, 1893, pp. 

 167-168). In our experience, C. wisUzenii does not ordinarily 

 range so high as Cnemidophorus tigris, which we found at an 

 altitude of 5000 feet on certain ridges near Big Creek Ranch. 

 On these ridges wisUzenii was replaced by haileyi. This is a 

 seeming deviation from the range relations of the two species of 

 Crotaphytus given by Ruthven (1907, p. 518), according to 

 whom the distribution of Crotaphytus wisUzenii corresponds 

 closely to that of C. c. baileyi. Locally in the Pine Forest 

 Jlountain region, as has been shown, the ranges of the two did 

 not overlap, haileyi being practically limited to a single rocky 

 ridge, and ivislizenii to the desert flat and a short distance up 

 certain caiions. Ruthven did not find the leopard lizard in 

 Upper Sonoran, whereas all our localities belong to that life zone. 



Leopard lizards were found in washes and on lesser ridges 

 of the open desert, under various species of desert plants. As 

 was the case with other species of reptiles, Crotaphytus u:islizenii 

 was much more common at Big Creek Ranch, that is, along the 

 eastern foothills of the mountains, than at any other locality 

 visited. 



Habits. — "We found these lizards comparatively easy to noose. 

 When really surprised they exhibit tremendous speed, never 

 stopping until they reach come convenient bush, into the shelter 

 of which they crawl and remain quiet. One individual, on being 

 pursued, escaped by running into a burrow. 



One shot in the top of a low thorny bush on the mesa near 

 Quinn River Crossing contained the partly digested remains of a 

 Sceloporus graciosus. 



A\Tien handled the animals make a hissing sound and vigor- 

 ously attempt to bite. One uttered a low moaning sound. While 

 at rest they keep the head raised from the ground and watch the 

 intruder, but when in motion lower it. One was seen running 



