CROTALUS LUCIFER. 18T 



the flanks is uniform black ; from the middle of the flanks downwards, 

 the general hue is uniform yellow. The tail is straw-colored, spotted 

 with black. A series of these spots, saddle-like, may be traced all 

 along the upper edge of that organ, and a similar series also along the 

 inferior edge, whilst the middle region exhibits several rounded ones, 

 constitutiug another series. 



Loo. — A specimen of this species was collected at Pomotu, or Society 

 Islands, 



Genus CROTALUS, Linn. 



Gen. Char. — Upper surface of the head covered with small, scale-like 

 plates, the anterior ones largest. Temporal shields and labial plates 



. small and convex. A deep pit between the eye and the nostril. 

 Dorsal scales keeled. Preanal and subcaudal scutellae entire. Tail 

 terminated by a well-developed rattle. 



Syn Crotahis, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 370.— Gray, Catal. Snakes Brit. Mus. 



1849, 19.— B. & G. Catal. N. Amer. Bept. I, 1853, i.— Dum. & Bibr. Erpet. gen. VII, 

 II, 1854, 1453. 



Observ. — The rattlesnakes, it is well known, are provided with one, 

 two, or more hollow fangs on either side of the roof of the mouth, and 

 in communication with a poison-bag lodged within the thickness of the 

 bone itself. 



CrOTALUS LUCIFER, B. & G. 



(Plate XV, figs. 1-6.) 



Char. spec. — Squamis dorsualihus in quinque et viginti series Iwigiiu- 

 - dinales dispositis ; extrema laevi, secunda et tertia obsolete carinatis. 

 Cauda et posteriore corporis parte sexdedm vel septendecim nigins 

 semi-annulis fasciatis. Series sexangidarwn vel octa7igularum fus- 

 carum macularum, angustd et 'pallida lined circumdatarumj in dorse 

 est sita. Fasciola clara ex supraocularl scuto transit per oris angu- 

 lum, insuper tertiam et quartam squamarum svpralahialium seriem. 



