30 
Transactions Texas Academy of Science. 
SIS TRUTHS MILIARIUS, Linnmus. 
(“Ground Rattlesnake.”) 
Plate Y. 
description. 
“Twenty-two or twenty-three dorsal rows of. scales, all of which are 
carinated, the lateral and first row but slightly; a vertebral brownish 
red line; seven series of blotches, one dorsal and three lateral, on each 
side, the uppermost of which is obsolete, and the lowest subject to irreg- 
ularities. Vertical plate (frontal) subcordiform, occipital (parietal) 
oblong and elongated. A narrow white line commences at the lowest 
point of the orbit and passes obliquely backward to the angle of the 
mouth. Ground color dark grayish ash, minutely mottled. A series of 
thirty-eight to forty-five subcircular dorsal blotches extending from 
head to tail, dark brown, each with a narrow distinct yellowish border. 
Interval rather narrower than the spots themselves. A broad band of 
purplish red passes from head to tail through the blotches. On each side 
may be distinguished three series of blotches, the first on the first and 
second lateral rows of scales and partly on the abdominal scutellse (ven- 
trals and gastrosteges) ; the second alternating with this on the second, 
third, fourth, and fifth rows of scales, and opposite the dorsal series : the 
third alternating with the second, and the dorsal series on the fifth, sixth, 
seventh and eighth rows of scales. The latter series is dusky and obso- 
lete; r.he others are uniform and distinctly black. The shape of the 
blotches is subject to some variation, according to individuals. Gener- 
ally subcircular or oblong, they become sometimes a transversely elongated 
quadrangle, three times as long as wide. Their shape varies according to 
the region of the body on which they are found. On the anterior third 
they are subquadrangular, anteriorly and posteriorly emarginated ; on the 
middle region they elongate, and towards the posterior third, they become 
nearly circular. Backward of the anus the five or six blotches of that 
region extend on the sides, without, however, meeting on the lower sur- 
face. The blotches of the first lateral row are subquadrangular and a little 
smaller than those on the second and third rows; the blotches of the 
second row being transversely oblong and largest on the middle region 
of the body. Side of the head purplish brown, a narrow, distinct white 
line from the lowest part of the orbit passing obliquely backward to the 
angle of the mouth. Above and continuous with that white line a deep 
chestnut-brown vitta is observed, of the same length but broader, and 
lined above with a narrow, dull yellowish margin. Two undulated dark 
brown vittse extend from the vertex to the first dorsal blotch and con- 
