A Set ek lt aes - 5 eee eh oc Ree NNT she sti oy aati ; Ry Sats oe . > is ; as tenrerank a : RSogh se he ost aes zy tee 3 sana eS SER RST eeetoobarheesaeoe to bathe ipa pesae P > tea at vk . sis Oetoe ‘ ee - ; : Ss . ; +i Ru: oi 42 area eestasaseataetecre esti ttecktze, ; se eeerastett i: icasiee ai chs Seer : sHesetsteerad factaneegstate 7 ae eases ‘ gets 1 . . : bet tt NES eager eee ere : Reena SRR Sor brant bes ; rere Ort rn 2 : : : oat Sh be eye : SS . Sicha “S i ron hes : sa eseret tue ratescesetecalys SySeates ah esnenn athe Sehteoe a3 pat Sys os si : , ° 2 ; + sete Si ieeys Hee Rae bea ae aeeae sta Spee aaa leet ae nea bre Desahat ehge atone : A) : “i : 7 ; gecgere® ’ ve - f : 0 : sates ryt peraty weiss ehisiargaatiees estate : ect neh. setae At Seth. : erties seie? ; aterasra ; erat ; ‘ ee: ek : be 3 . Seo we ratierg® ae rh ; reed eiere ie ‘2 Bi yan} rats 24}, : ss . ; te : rhe eh oa is leet ; . Leis peta RS ea Sas aeaR ea i, if Srthes aan) tert te behoeseeae ath a ‘a siti i afi ‘ 4 7 ut + ete seit, OF : +) Aereraeie Sete} i : itis ees Weare ~eLtae Leia atie SSO asians tye > + * iN i ; .) ie on ay Ne ae a rhe nay eine if i te a ahs y He Haas fanieaYii TH ete byt sha Ae At cut i aD as int ee \ Occasional Papers CALIFORNIA ACADEMY Ur SGIENGHS. < SAN FRANCISCO, EO Op THE REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST AND GREAT BASIN AN ACCOUNT OF THE SPECIES KNOWN TO INHABIT CALIFORNIA, AND Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada. BY JOHN VAN DensurGH, PH. D. Curator of the Department of Herpetology. SAN FRANCISCO: CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. June, 1897. ea cies i =e AR ML Si ¥ PREFACE. The life histories of our reptiles remain almost entirely unknown. Herpetologists are so few, and reptiles so re- tiring, that, unless more general interest can be aroused, we may hope for very little light upon this important branch of the science. Many specialists in other de- partments of science, as well as hunters, farmers, stu- dents, and other intelligent men, however, are constantly in the field and might record observations of great in- terest were means of identification at hand. This paper has been prepared in the hope that it may stimulate those whose mode of life leads them into the woods and fields to study the ways of our reptiles— by no means the least interesting, if amongst the more humble, of the animals about us. Although it has not been thought advisable to ‘‘ popu- larize’’ the descriptions in the following pages, such characters as cannot be determined without dissection have been avoided. For this reason the synopses and characterizations of the higher groups are very artificial and are not intended to hold good if applied to extra- limital species or genera. Likewise, superfamilies, sub- families, and subgenera have not been introduced. While this is, thus, intended as a handbook for the more or less casual student, it is hoped that the profes- sional herpetologist will find something of interest re- garding the variation and distribution of our reptiles. I wish especially to express my obligation to Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, who placed at my disposal the entire collection of reptiles belonging to the United 4 PREFACE. States National Museum; to Mr. Henry H. Hindshaw, Curator of the Museum of the University of Washing- ton, who sent mea collection of species from western Washington; to Mr. John Fannin, Curator of the Pro- vineial Museum, Victoria, B.C., who lent me the collec- tion belonging to his institution; to Prof. W. E. Ritter, of the University of California, for a similar favor; to Dr: G.,.Baur; to Mr: Harold.Heath-: to Dr. W. W..The=z burn; to Mr. Douglas Van Denburgh; to Mr. Edward Hyatt; to Mr. J. M. Hyde; to Mr. J. O. Snyder; to Dr. G. Eisen; to many others; and most of all to Dr. Chas. H. Gilbert, who forwarded to me the unequaled collec- tion of Californian reptiles belonging to Leland Stanford Junior University, and gathered for that institution by his untiring zeal. THe AUTHOR. San Francisco, April, 1897. CONTENTS. FEE ROD UGC TION eset ete ea ay oA td i Oe we witness a toOas 9 Reptiles Distinctetromybatrachiamics. 42ers sits ete sree oh a ckoe 9 SYNOPSiSiO Le Classes qasvacwetayrrs el cite ser desis oe wi cicbstewbelsiorhe wa Feed ic 10 Orders: of; Tivine MROptMles,..- §.2cco5:5,selde so.cars! Hl daits) os Shot elaccn Poe obs 10 Reptiles of Paciiic Coast,and Great, Basin... .....,, 00 200s. sss eae e 10 RCL Sear NIIN DOR S26, see. Sa arated Saas aarsingehed deseo ckoute 11 Disturb UO Me pen Seeks hak cote erat cles sew CRE RL aa ete 11 Reptlessole California) see. eun cart sosyaicteke cisanieitinn |e ts miatio ete 12 Table of Species and Subspecies Ske Hee I to tee 12 her Mosert: Hauer yest Poteaive sea Ae gene aaa Aire ate ages 14 ‘Rhe:Sam. Disgam Haainasy sc ota p as hyid 2a Coe ae Rlaiiaanes ew 15 MhelCalitorniamebaum'a east, So caer oh ears eee oies oleld xeon dk aka 16 Phas Paciie, HAUNAM as «yer Tso.) sc, a eee RO omibt ares TEM iMheisierrayNevadanel aunAt r,s ieee yas einise ai cienes 17 Relation slob sb a umes. 1. seats crovers iene aia che ev See reel ee ews epitleskote Oreconewe ame. dG ocieiels sorte eens teria SA aie a) Repilestote Washimetoni. | o.-.cch sed ult ees ss 2s aevannele serie tneche 19 Beptiles) old aha yl sen oka pac «cde ears eeaaee Oo 19 Rep tiles oieNe via days 0 0 ae pevt tec ssc nein: anche cener er onccarene 20 WE TRIIE YH 05S yk Peace cee AM Ie PACS POE MRED CL tne IME & Bre a Bey FTO, goer 20 Wollechinevand, (Preseny Inge 75. Sl er ata acta hele wero all 1D ea) CH AEEY CON UUSIAS, ean seeder ean lenes COSA isd heteneicas crn GemeeaG, oe Oot iene 22 Woloxnipeeea ters es AN vo Hotes gd PAL od Stash Pega eh Ly uh eee te cats oa 22, MGASIIRE MN OTE Sa... Sue Letra ccs ch alaens oe syed tare ne MeN Seas 22 IUUNGISVH RM ALON wee Stee arb Sie cho an wic@rone oh Se iD chet bee BOM 22 NGL OR Sverre os ted ea hohe A Se esaesi oat PA ios ae Oa > da wis a 22 Fee A ee ay opty ee ae Ee I AL VAS TOD ota Oe let oee ars Ss 28 FEESTUDENER 2 eis cca nem meres Hoh se tcl za ees ortracaid hake eraacie ie ks 28 IRS TIG OMAN nr teraet ahh GEER) OG o cid GoORGe ta Mri e CUBE evel CLS MIN Ss siete sks hoe emetic in rsta oer pote a eRe ed ah 29 marmorata. (Paciiie: Terrapin).s 1 je op os2q sessed ocaw lennon oes ee 30 COREY SEMIS 5.5 5. «oes \secas wipes yeld Steal beer a) Slee Hetyacs Sais 32 bellus(Western) Painted: Durtle)pemee mace ae. Oo Gophenusrs. so es5 Asis ne cists ee ais ct IS ad Bis wi citi eee 35 agagsizin. (Desert EOrioise)! c+. anes, Ac teeebeaey 2 dls oelard osteo 4 35 RSG MEAUE Aa eas oon rhs cede nese tey ns Stn Acai ee neta Cy Waals ladon a a 38 ROGER See pre ati Son ete te a aa Me a a er AED eee eS 6 onic 39 JOA D CHER om BERS BBC RAIS OS: Heo ORLe tictohae base 2 tT Reo 39 COlCORET Joe eee eet ct esate eel old a Vk Seger one ose taleaeee 39 varlegatus: (banded: Gecko)... 4/5.,0/s1,>,5;, 00 odious eaecttaaas 40 CONTENTS. PAGE I Wiehe i ele ROCESS CORIANDER BNOneGloc. gamoccuen se 42 IDHOSOSEMNEL Son comindoe Sado co cdon Dso6Dd Doon oboo CaI0S alte. 43 dorsalis (Crestedtlizard) i>. 5.64 +- eee eee eee 44 Waar eee ete. ey eee a nea Anions o GaUO Sind 46 notatam (Sand izard)) =. esces ce ces es acc eee Gee eee 47 inornata) (Plain sand elizard)AReee esta se oe cece eee ee 47 Callisaunrus ss cimlss:as sah eaeiesars Je c0t sie oe scien 47 ventralis (Gxidimon-tailed Mizard)2. 4+ seein a2 oon eee eS VOW broOkiae yor tis tet cae eit eee ele em Latiek are icine cesteeniee teeter 51 maculata approximans (Western Earless Lizard)............ 51 Crotaphytusr.auecectns ase cee rons Seeds as Sunset e kc oeine eee 53 baileyi (Bailey's Tizard) 2355 20a 65. A a ten taste es ae es 53 wislizentin(meopanrdelizard)) "serie -ate eee meee cr net ne eer 56 Silus(Short-nosed acopard lizard) esses eee eee eer 59 SAUNOMAI US Ie crsyesrolatovat cer sone sts cl nes rcs syahere tenerne Mencts mis superstars 60 ater (Alderman Lizard. Chuck-walla)....... Socata bye tetsts Snes 60 UG Syaie eee, bS scious os, ayaa 50s bush bl wig Be a veiare’ 2s eeiart Mtoe Be vele ciuayaess 63 Meat sis (Mearns :s lizard) eee reece een ete 64 stansburiana (Brown-shouldered Lizard)................... 66 eraciosarhone-talleduUita) ass dereeel eee eee 69 Symmetrica. (Tree (Uta). sc c.s.cc. Aes ase eee ls See eee 70 Sceloporus...... Bi le. dajane Je SRE SNS Mena ace eee Mein eee 73 TEVOTONHS (MikomaienN IWAN). non pangcecd dacs coon Gao ca5e 74 occidentalis ((Bime-bellicdpinizard) see eee eee eee ai pisenatuis) (Hence pi zard) anes eisai eee tere 80 mapgister (Sealy. (Wizard) i. ny: cine ce sale Scie eel ee oe ee 84 OHOMUM(AD WSS 7 Seah IbNARRO ho Gnag sean condo eed sosd soo a6 86 PATYNOSOMAWHe cae caaicncie Hee ee Laine es hee ae ees See 89 douglassin(Piemystlomedy Load) passes een nee eee 90 blainvallii(Blaimyille’s| HornedsLoad) <=. i052: 42s ee eee 91 frontaley (California Horned load) pees =a sees eee eae eeeieee 93 Pilatyrhinos (Desertielorned load) pease es eeaee eee 98 mccalllai(Hiat-tailedsElorned ond) lasers se ee eee eee 100 ANG WIM io '.. 5 o diaun, cae wisiale\s ayne a ae 01s Jr cl TAA Ee 101 Gerrhonotus: «35. icing ind ohne Mctageis oh eee See ee 102 Scineicauda, (Alligator, Tizard) sess sel ae ae ea eee 103 burnettii (Burnett’s Alligator Lizard):..................... 107 principis (Northern Alligator Lizard)................ Banca 112 palmeri (Mountain Alligator Inizard)e. ee cee ee ene ee 113 ARNICLIDE i355 havea ake ne DOT e DRI Ae See a eee 115 J.4c TW) | CREA eaS CON ACRES | ciocis Gio tian ac'd clu bean ce. ots 116 pulchra (Silvery Kootless@izard):....... 2024202 sss ee ee ee 116 migran(ibiack Hootless: Wizard) 9 eet aes eee eee 118 Helodermatid@ aiccur tech Cece meee oer noite eee 120 CONTENTS. 7 PAGE Heloderm tis v.25 ace cyacatre GNSS Ae she oreo bs Sle ahh Se a diees.« 120 suspectum) (Gilagvionsten)pememere facie ace cleisice ls 120 GUL OKT LUA REMEBER 5.5 6 O00. BOD AoSSES Foo COS HG Daa aE acute 122 MAntUSIAs ise He eee eee itis ns ness Ris ace each s 123 Vigilis(DegeEt Nise WAZAE) jet bs s.scee swe w te t ett tla «leis 123 henshawi (Henshaw’s Night Lizard) .................. 000. 128 Tiversianal(island Night Wizard) Nie. see ee wees ee ee ee 130 INIT 0D ee oes eefotte rE ae RR case eet ce RL ee a 132 Cremidopuonu see yrs a tec ee acta eet oceees 133 tionisE (Deserta mip tall) em .c oencisis rom wuciasie re ereets tte tcaseroney se) « 134 mmdulatuse (Californian Wihip-tail)\ers series ete cae 137 stejnegeri (Stejneger’s Whip-tail)................. 0-000: 139 WOT EICATA itis Shai. wiaicnc Gree SERTE Seek SERN Ose ahs ee Alan greats ae 140 hyperythra beldingi (Belding’s Orange-throat).............. 141 SKU DAUOID eae Gite i oes SOL RE OMectd Chak Rene SS Gia eae Oana sic eee 143 IMO COS ya erase ieee oe oo a creti tub eetala BURR Na de lol bienete Glere.e 143 skiltoniamis(Westermis lok) yn eae ssieionie aya ete este 144 eilbertin(Red-headed; Skimlc)rss 42 ase eo ee eles ae are 147 SOLD UCS a atocn ties oalstsieve ee eRe tee ae eee el epeonte RPMeaare te ehae meter cle 150 DB NANO) O USCY OUTER Otic Ss AOS ck Pe AACE AEA ora) A eR ne 150 SIR OINO MOM accrenta er sited eee ea eee MULTE, Be MLE IR EUAA SUD ctenteneys 150 Lemon EVM Kopin de) hg) haign datid poo boathdoddocodooon oS 150 I BYOUKTITR: WE Ce Bre eS ee PN OE EE fk BA Ce Wy eR aa 152 IDG ENE eamens iere costae on OME a eRe a Plc tse er cre 152 TOSECOLUS Can (CATON IAN OR) etree enet eer eee ieee eet 152 @harimaeis com cocis car trneote Raion tee SLLROSA eco SoS re 154 botter(Ruibber,Snake)ccsns Late taeetie 5 tyes at ete her als 154 WOLD ae dee atom RUM NESS TUR OSG IRR EMU RTD 2s ee 157 Chilomeniscus ....... Peter cera TR nt AR MEARA SOTERA ELEN ace 8 cs 158 ephippiculs; (burrowing snake). emesis eee eel 159 CHIONACHIS ya scrra etek ssh eo ott ee aekcdd Vrs Asean tr ieten Vat on porate Ge 159 Occipitalisn(Deserte snake) myer i eee tee cet aie 160 COME aps 55, F topee cons ei Pala re ce = cas trees see eens, Gps ses 161 meV (Slneny coum eel SINE IEG)) ooo cone coou docu vance eaoocusauC 162 Diadophisnct oe acne Sete AMOR ae eae oe ine Pee cera 164 amabilis (Western Ring-neck Snake)...................... 164 ampropoltis's;,-ce tna’ cit setenen ces este asin eet Sm le ie 166 zonata, (Californian, King Space) c. 6 ) I= <1 169 californize) (California, Milk) Snake) a2. -.05-)n8 2 4-299 172 ININTAVGACMGIS BeBe ds 6c ccd Gemoo COM On and Comn ceoclad oon ODe 174 lecontei (Long-nosediSnake)iace ae eerie ee tae: | =) wal 174 ANAT EIN ate awe tices Rte no Chace d.nis Gli Orie mink eroiicn aa ae rR RE ONC Oi 176 8 CONTENTS. PAGE Eby psiglonalceecn od ited ic ole dm:-' ire thee belo ene Sete Me ere 178 ochrorhynchus (Spotted Night Snake). ................... 178 Salvadoraysr irs as te oes tic areca sie late ot oye. sepsis loners! Sree eee RS 180 grahami (Patche@-nosed snake)! )- 2-0. ---ieieeent 181 Bas Canton ye coir ie atatee eee ktoiogeas icuetoussets eset ora oe Oe eee eens 183 - constrictor vetustum (Western Yellow-bellied Racer)........ 183 flagellum frenatum (Western Whip Snake)................. 186 laterale: (Califommian Racer)e- ca -4- 5-55-50 -2 > oa eerie 188 teniatum (Striped Racer) ............ Bik SL alee ere 190 {Malo Wee ia apr er oo SANG tia ad ¢ aociaablo Abo gmeed lara slob eto < 192 elegans: (Haded Snake) icf Aryan mised ca ate chats te clio ce nue tiers 193 Pita OP HIB yee ace ys aise eat Re ae PMR Sitar slat Tey aterene eee 195 catenifer (Western Gopher Snake) ..!.. 92.2. 25-0.. = ..---- 195 deserticola (Desert Gopher Snake) ........ Ge ee bus) Mhammnophists, sete ryaoene eke estes Coe = aie Ae OE LO ea el ning 199 panietalis(PaciticiGarter Snake) memese. teense mei eeerae 200 pickeringii (Northwestern Garter Snake) fipaclthing Rude Gery 204 leptocephala (Puget -Garter Snake).................. ..... 205 elegans) (HlegantiiGarter’Snake)in. aa econ te eee here 207 vagrans (Wandering Garter Snake).......................-- 210 biscutata (Cope’s Garter Snake); ..- 5... .- eee eee ee 212 hammondii (Californian Garter Snake).................... 212 ORGANI ee Se ate ee Bon Monae CNS Mra Hore sae 214 Crotalus 2 s2ecnsheaes ate chien tcreac atta ee ae Ente Mey anaeton a oteke 215 lucifers(PaciiiceRattlesnale) Reece ere e ier rit aerate srs 216 confluentus (Prairie Rattlesnake).. ..................-.:.- 218 tigris (LigerMattlesnake)) Ga-.een cise eee erie eee eioere 220 cerastes (Horned Rattlesnake. Sidewinder)............... 222 mitchellin(Bleached Rattlesnake) fe... 2----- eee atiee cies 224 ruber (Western Diamond Rattlesnake)...................-- 226 THE REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST AND GREAT BASIN. INTRODUCTION. The term reptile is popularly applied to all cold-blooded vertebrates other than fishes, Thus used it includes two groups of animals which differ in many important re- spects. These are the batrachians and the reptiles proper; the former more closely allied to the fishes; the latter, to the birds. The typical batrachians, such as most frogs, toads, salamanders, etc., lay their eggs in the water, and the young, for a time, breathe by means of gills, very much as do the fishes. Later on, they undergo a metamor- phosis, during which the gills and other larval charac- teristics disappear, the tadpole assumes the form and structure of its parents and emerges from the water to breathe air and spend a greater or less portion of its life on land. The skin of batrachians* is not provided with scales, but is smooth or warty, very glandular, and often covered with a slimy secretion. The true reptiles, such as alligators, turtles, lizards, and snakes, on the other hand, never lay their eggs in the water, even the marine species coming to land for this purpose. Their young never breathe by means of gills, but are hatched or born with the form and _ struc- ture of the adult. The skin, except of some turtles, is covered with scales, and is dry, never slimy. There are, also, many anatomical and embryological differences between the two classes, but these need not *Except Ceecilians of tropical lands. ~ 10 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. be mentioned here, since the batrachians will not be considered in the following pages. Our reptiles and batrachians may be distinguished by the following SYNOPSIS OF CLASSES. a.—Anal opening transverse or round; skin furnished with scales (varying from large plates to minute granules); or, if skin smooth (Pelo- discus), tail and claws present and jaws without teeth. (Turtles, lizardsrnsinalkces ClCH) e-em Lenni cee rena vorchs Reptilia.—p. 28. a?,—Anal opening longitudinal or round; skin smooth or warty, without scales; no claws.* (Frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, water-dogs, tadpoles (euGs) ite ct .ccvk o nacreeeiontes Gale Toast Batrachia. Long ago the reptiles were the rulers of the earth as the mammals are to-day. Huge monsters, most gro- tesquely fashioned, roamed over the land, while equally large reptiles swam in the seas, and in the air were great creatures whose bat-like wings, it is said, some- times measured more than twenty feet from tip to tip. But of these monsters, none remain alive; only the smaller forms have survived. Living reptiles fall natu- rally into four groups or orders. One of these orders contains but a single lizard-like animal, the Sphenodon of New Zealand, interesting to the morphologist be- cause of its generalized structure. The other three orders are numerously represented in the warmer por- tions of both the Old and New Worlds. They are: first, the alligators and crocodiles; second, the turtles; third, the lizards and the snakes. The alligators and crocodiles are of chiefly tropical and subtropical distribution and do not enter the terri- tory we are considering. The turtles are most numer- ous in moist regions, and, consequently, are represented on the Pacific Coast and in the Great Basin by few species. The lizards and snakes, on the contrary, find * Tips of digits sometimes borny. REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. ty our warm, dry climate well adapted to their needs, and are very numerous. In the following pages I have admitted to the fauna of the states under consideration seventy-seven species and subspecies of reptiles belong- ing to thirty-seven genera, thirteen families, and two orders. Of these, three are turtles, forty are lizards, and thirty-four snakes. While it is probable that no two of these species have exactly the same geographical limits, yet the ranges of certain species are, in a general way, conterminous with those not only of other reptiles but of other kinds of animals as well. Thus, if we map out the areas occu- pied by the different kinds of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, plants, etc., we find that the boundaries of the ranges of many species are nearly coincident, so that in one area we have certain genera and species associated, while more or less closely related kinds inhabit adjoin- ing districts. From such study of its animals and plants temperate North America has been divided into a number of life zones,* each of which may be sub- divided into minor areas technically known as Faune. When regarded from a herpetological standpoint, California may be divided into five minor life areas, each of which corresponds more or less closely with one of the chief physical areas of the State. Thus, one biologic area occupies the southeastern deserts, an- other the southern coast, a third the western slopes of the northern coastal ranges, a fourth a belt along the Sierra Nevada, and a fifth the great interior valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin together with their fringing foothills. * On this subject see especially Allen, Bull. Am Mus. N. H., IV, 1, 1892, pp. 199-244; Auk., X, 2, Apr., 1893; Merriam, N. A. Fauna, No, 3, 1890, and No. 5, 1891; Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. VII, pp. 1-64, 1892; Nat. Geog. Mag., 1894; Rep. Sec. Agri., 1893, pp. 228, 229 (1894). 12 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Each of these areas is characterized by the presence of certain species which do not live in the others, and the absence of other species peculiar to the adjoining Faune. Other species, though not restricted to one, conform more or less closely to the geographical limits of two or more of these life areas. Without stopping to speculate upon the causes which, severally or in com- bination, have operated to bring about this arrange- ment, let us consider each of these areas in detail, pointing out its faunal peculiarities and relations to the others. The reptilian fauna of California, as at present known, is composed of seventy-one species and subspecies. The following table shows the area or areas which each of these is known to inhabit: DISTRIBUTION OF CALIFORNIAN REPTILES. oD Z, < tA Ss) eo 8 3 eee les ee BAAN ONG: Peay Saeed et SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES. z S = fe ; S g a 5 © S é D S : : SS Clemmiys marmoratar sec ce)slelteie sieeel| asic = [Pe wee cane ce he Ghrysem ye apelin) reas a vis (aer- wets darts Mest list oeG.5 Lie biel Ae eee eee Gophers aeassiziee may. cc cece seller meee PEs ses dic ex ™Coleonyx wariegatus: t250 560)... Jet ea o8| soo. ee RO Aare tase oac ATexy! Dipsosaurus dorsalis............ 3 sitieiel[ecea:swiste|)incce d avell etches | eee Serer See (Wimmagmo tata yerere sitar mnicy. a odes al ow.ctiecuselteeeurec eydssyan's niles la eaaye llega eee oe IMOTMEA LAA AGnia ee kee ayelcetns < sic sere tall ten keke [eee aes erect cl | Reena nExeE Callisaurussventralisie sar oes. $ = sce oe llcridenn le eee cere ol eee aX? Crotaphytusybaileyi'ssas ste tec sree ol) sera tell eco nee etter RaNGY WASITZOMIU sets oy 2 acyaatel lepers Baxen Meee rcnsrte ty tines arastl eee Ble oc kc K hele cacoee teeters Sauromalus savers es lera/sly sae cctee Seis Altes eee siege et eee |e SEXY). WaT O RTS Wer gL tote cysts crete cus vorrsa eee lite atten al eames HIE Falko odes SANA SIO CITATIE i (oh cages otiag.c'c a 27 ai wie ioe teuerers RT eke Serllers 2S0.0lfon 2 vie OTACIOSM ae sets Tay vest ater Mace Snes PG ioeiccralhes oo ol hot Gee SyMMOtricateys- ee heNG Hwee Nee Wee ieten atthe bee a4 Be Bi es oasteallenane- eee REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. DISTRIBUTION OF CALIFORNIAN REPTILES —Continued. SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES. sfoT[BA “4sBog Uleqy NOG “yaeseq Sceloporus graciosus................. occidentalis) 4.5. .2-6-2- 3: LOPSERTC HAST oi Beis Go Rinses eeeas THO CIAICH 5 SS sana ooeouo eae CRROMINT oe boa Ooen women Phrynosoma douglassii POR At OIRO ENTETCES plainvillii Seth aOR Saiolerene ICING: « cathe woo Sumo ; platyrhinoOss ss. 6.4. - ImnCalllntieee ecm acts. Geirhonotus scincicauda ............. [SUING Hse An Grauioomeaaae pObaicry oS) (1) )auaGomees oes RUM GRIC MG oka oye 2 into Amimiellamoulchtalr:yaeyscrs sins cs 1-2, ses MUR AMA RO eh archers © ei slp oe ABS cal Wee? SiC ? api. x xi 14 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. DISTRIBUTION OF CALIFORNIAN REpPTILES—Concluded. mn Z = wh =e o © ° 2 . 3 Sie || eemnlnte = > ca j= Be Zw 2 nu ia) ee SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES. ms fe : = : a 2 Q Q Q fc} o 2 = > E AIZONEV GLO GANS 3% = s)eters sis oc ueoie cies execs tail fercereteio|| etek ste recalls os 5x5) |e xe 2 Pitwophiskcateniier sien es oye. circus Weare ome Kiel | eg Xe: x stetes deserticolay 2! pee eee ere le te ae cones Bea Thamnophis parietalis ...... Bt Baer lai: Sacks |e Sse re-S Son tail sistene eee ClECRNIGE Ree chor as gree Et? Saal ors 2 eas lago2® osha eaten ste VaOTONS 1 ae Ce. ohare keys t realtor bee lh tea A Zax eye as ee aria ODA 3H Wie ecee easel ee eel etaeree BeXe:, Kiely SER Crotalusslucifery ys). ee eee CR aERE 2} [Pore ORC | PCIe | Penn a gee ae PUOTI SI ols ce ise ttand she Finer coe val Pe he areca aged cena Pex COLASLOSE fc -be See ccc Sse sive cbs ever ail reper t cdl orow cn epetea | temsareve otal lake rete a |e xcs TOTE CIS a Ay yee pee eat eect cae |e retell eee pre ee rere xe 5301] 0,5) aaa myth ee Aen tae ers Dare Ube ce Srl bea rs leon Ga a Xoo Elles etek The Desert Fawna.—The Colorado and Mojave Deserts with western and northern arms, one of which invades the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley, constitute the Californian portion of what may here be termed the Desert Fauna. This Fauna, as we have seen, is inhab- ited by thirty-one (or thirty-three) species and subspe- cies of reptiles, of which the following twenty-three (or twenty-four) occur in no other area of the State: Gopherus agassizil, Coleonyx variegatus, Dipsosaurus dorsalis, Uma notata, Uma inornata, Callisaurus ventralis, Crotaphytus baileyi, Crotaphytus wislizenii, Sauromalus ater, Uta graciosa, Uta symmetrica, Sceloporus magister, Phrynosoma platyrhinos, Phrynosoma m’callii, Xantusia vigilis, Cnemidophorus tigris, Siagonodon humilis, Chilomeniscus ephippicus, Chionactis occipitalis, Bascanion teniatum (7), Pituophis catenifer deserticola, Crotalus tigris, Crotalus cerastes, Crotalus mitchellii. REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 15 This area shares with the southern coast or San Diegan Fauna alone only Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus, Salvadora grahamic, and probably Arizona elegans, and with the valleys or Californian Fauna possibly Bascanion tenia- tum, while in common with both these areas it has Uta stansburiana, Rhinocheilus lecontei, Bascanion flagellum frenatum, Thamnophis hammondii, and perhaps Scelop- orus biseriatus. Moreover, it lacks twenty-seven (or thirty-three) species and subspecies which occur in one or both of these adjoining Faune, and possesses none of those found in the Sierra Nevada and northern coast areas. The Desert Fauna is the most distinct of the minor life areas of California. The San Diegan Fauna.—This area comprises the western portions or coastal slopes of San Diego, River- side, Orange, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles Coun- ties, excepting the higher lands, which belong rather with the Sierra Nevada. It is, in the main, a warmer and dryer area than the Californian Fauna, to which it is most closely allied. The reptiles of this Fauna are twenty-eight (or thirty) in number, of which the following eight (or nine) are peculiar to it: Uta mearnsi, Cnemidophorus stejnegeri, Sceloporus orcutti, Verticaria hyperythra beldingi, Phrynosoma blainyillii, Lichanura roseofusca, t Xantusia henshawi, Crotalus ruber. Xantusia riversiana, * It shares with only the Desert Fauna Hypsiglena och- rorhynchus, Salvadora grahamie, and probably Arizona elegans; with the Californian Fauna, Anniella pulchra, Lampropeltis californie, Bascanion laterule, and perhaps *Insular. t Oecurs also near Tucson, Ariz. 16 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Sceloporus biseriatus and Lampropeltis boylii; and with both these Faune, Uta stansburiana, Rhinocheilus lecontei, Bascanion flagellum frenatum, Thamnophis hammondit, and perhaps Sceloporus biseriatus. It lacks twenty - five species and subspecies of the Desert Fauna, and eight (or nine) of the Californian. Some species are common to it and to one or both of the northern areas —Sierra Nevadan and Pacific. The San Diegan Fauna is most closely allied to the Californian. The Californian Fauna.—The Californian Fauna in- cludes the western slope of the Sierra Nevada below the Sierra Nevadan Fauna, and extends thence westward to the ocean, excepting the area along the coast which constitutes the Pacific Fauna and that part of the San Joaquin Valley which belongs to the Desert Fauna. It appears to reach the coast in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. Twenty-six (or twenty- nine) reptiles have been found within its limits. Of these, four are peculiar to it, as follows: Crotaphytus silus, Cnemidophorus tigris undulatus, Phrynosoma frontale, Tantilla eiseni. It shares with the Desert Fauna alone possibly Bas- canion teniatum; with the Desert and San Diegan Faun, Uta stansburiana, Rhinocheilus lecontei, Bascanion flagelluin frenatum, Thamnophis hammondii, and perhaps Sccloporus biservatus; with the San Diegan Fauna alone, Anniella pulchru, Lampropeltis californiw, Bascanion laterale, and perhaps Sceloporus biseriatus and Lampro- peltis boylii; with the Pacific Fauna alone, Sceloporus occidentalis; with the Pacific and San Diegan Faune, Clemmys marmorata and Gerrhonotus scincicauda; and with all except the Desert Fauna, Humeces skiltonianus, Diadophis amabilis, Bascanion constrictor vetustum, Tham- REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. ys nophis parietalis, Crotalus lucifer, and perhaps Lampro- peitis zonata and Lampropeltis boylii. It lacks twenty- five (or twenty-seven) reptiles of the Desert Fauna, eleven (or twelve) of the San Diegan, two (or three) of the Pacific, aud three (or five) of the Sierra Nevadan. The Californian Fauna is most closely allied to the San Diegan. The Pacific Fauna.—The Pacific Fauna occupies a narrow strip along the coast as far south as Monterey County.* In the northern part of the State it widens and merges with the Sierra Nevadan, to which it is closely allied, but farther south it is confined to the western slope of the outer Coast Range. It is inhabited by fifteen (or seventeen) kinds of reptiles. Of these, Gerrhonotus burnettii and Anniella nigra are peculiar. Sceloporus occidentalis and Contia mitis it shares with the Californian Fauna only. Lampropeltis zonata is perhaps confined to this and the Sierra Nevadan Faune. Its other species are wide-ranging. It lacks thirteen (or sixteen) reptiles of the Californian Fauna, and four (or five) of the Sierra Nevadan. This Fauna is much bet- ter characterized by its batrachians, birds, and other animals than by its reptiles. The Sierra Nevadan Fauna.—The fifth life area of Cal- ifornia occupies a belt along the western (and eastern also?) side of the Sierra Nevada. One at least of its reptiles reappears in the mountains of San Diego and Riverside Counties. Twelve (or fourteen) kinds of rep- tiles have been taken in this area. Gerrhonotus palmeri and Humeces gilberti are peculiar to it. Sceloporus grac- tosus occurs here but in no other part of California ex- cept the mountains of the .southern part of the State. * Probably to Santa Barbara in mountains, 18 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Gerrhonotus principis perhaps is one of its inhabitants. Lampropeltis zonata may be peculiar to it and the Pacific Fauna. The other szeptiles of the area are of rather wide distribution. It lacks seven (or eight) species of the Pacific Fauna, and seventeen (or twenty) of the Californian. We have seen that there are five life areas in Califor- nia* and that some of these are more closely allied than others. The Desert Fauna bears little resemblance to the San Diegan and Californian, and even less to the Pacific and Sierra Nevadan. Most of its species occur in western Arizona, southern Nevada, and northern Lower California.t It is, in fact, a part of the Lower Austral Zone of Merriam or South Warm Temperate of Allen. The San Diegan and Californian Faune have more in common. Apparently both belong to the Upper Austral Zone of Merriam, which is the Middle Warm Temperate of Allen. The Pacific and Sierra Nevadan Faune, also, are closely allied. They form a part of the Transition Zone of Merriam or North Warm Tem- perate of Allen, which, extending northward across western Oregon and Washington, forms another life area, which we may call the Puget Fauna.{ It would seem then, that these three zones bend suddenly south- _ward (irrespective of altitude) near the Pacific Coast. Thus it happens that their westernmost Faune lie north and south of each other instead of east and west —the Desert Fauna north of the San Luecan,? the Californian north of the San Diegan, the Puget north of the Pacific and Sierra Nevadan. ; Too little is known of the reptiles of Oregon, Wash- * The colder portions of the mountains have not been considered. t Except that part which belongs to the San Diegan Fauna. { This is perbaps a part of the Canadian Zone. 3 The southern end of the peninsula of Lower California. REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST, L9 ington, Idaho, and Nevada to permit anything to be said of their distribution. have been found in each St The following are the rep Clemmys marmorata, Crotaphytus wislizenii, Uta stansburiana, Sceloporus graciosus, Sceloporus occidentalis, Sceloporus biseriatus ( ?), Phrynosoma douglassii, Phrynosoma piatyrhinos, Gerrhonotus scincicauda, Gerrhonotus principis, Eumeces skiltonianus, Charina botte, The following ington: Clemmys marmorata, Chrysemys bellii, Sceloporus graciosus, Sceloporus occidentalis, Phrynosoma douglassii, Gerrhonotus principis, Charina botte, Contia mitis, The reptiles of Idaho are: Crotaphytus baileyi, Crotaphytus wislizenii, Uta stansburiana, Sceloporus graciosus, Sceloporus biseriatus, Phrynosoma douglassii, Phrynosoma platyrhinos, Cnemidophorus tigris, However, lists of those which ate are given. tiles of Oregon: Contia mitis, Diadophis amabilis, Bascanion constrictor vetustum, Bascanion t#niatum, Pituophis catenifer, Thamnophis parietalis, Thamnophis parietalis pickeringii, Thamnophis leptocephala, Thamnophis vagrans, Thamnophis vagrans biscutata, Crotalus lucifer. reptiles are known to inhabit Wash- Bascanion constrictor vetustum, Pituophis catenifer, Thamnophis parietalis, Thamnophis parietalis pickeringii, Thamnophis leptocephala, Thamnophis vagrans, Thamnophis vagrans biscutata, Crotalus lucifer. Charina botte, Bascanion constrictor vetustum, Bascanion teniatum, Pituophis catenifer, Thamnophis parietalis, Thamunophis vagrans, Crotalus lucifer, Crotalus confluentus. 20 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. The following species and subspecies have been found in Nevada: Gopherus agassizii, ; Heloderma suspectum, Dipsosaurus dorsalis, Cnemidophorus tigris, Callisaurus ventralis, Charina botte, Holbrookia maculata approximans, Lampropeltis boylii, Crotaphytus baileyi, Salvadora grahamie, Crotaphytus wislizenii, Bascanion flagellum frenatum, Sauromalus ater, s Bascanion teniatum, Uta stansburiana, Pituophis catenifer deserticola, Uta graciosa, Thamnophis parietalis, Sceloporus graciosus, Thamnophis vagrans, Sceloporus biseriatus, Crotalus lucifer, Sceloporus magister, Crotalus tigris, Phrynosoma platyrhinos, Crotalus cerastes. Many kinds of reptiles vary so much that it is diffi- cult to find two specimens which are alike in color and squamation. Sometimes the variations correspond with definite geographical areas, as in the case of Cnemidoph- orus tigris and C. t. undulatus or Phrynosoma biain- villii and P. frontale, but more frequently they are purely individual, as in Charina and many species of Thamnophis. Many reptiles are subject to chameleonic changes, or changes in accordance with the intensity of the light, or with the colors of objects by which they are surrounded. For these reasons the collector should strive to secure many specimens of each species. - Reptiles are to be found in all sorts of situations. The collector should study their habits if he would be successful in his search. Some kinds prefer moist places, while others are most abundant on barren hill- sides or on the open desert. As a rule, reptiles like sunlight and warmth, but some species live in the thicker forests, and not a few are nocturnal. | Some reptiles may be caught with the hands unaided by any apparatus. Other species, too agile to be cap- REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 21 tured thus, may be secured by means of a slip-noose of horse-hair, wild oats, thread, or fine wire, deftly placed over the head of the victim and then tightened with a sudden jerk. However, by far the most satisfactory method of procuring reptiles is to shoot them. For this purpose small charges of fine shot are used in an auxil- lary barrel, collecting pistol, or small caliber rifle. The last will prove much more effective if the rifling has been removed. When taken in the hands our reptiles often bite fiercely, but, even if they succeed in drawing blood, none except the rattlesnakes and the Gila Mon- ster can cause any serious injury, for only these are poisonous. Nothing is better for preserving reptiles than alcohol, though formalin may sometimes be used to advantage when little space is at the collector’s disposal. Care should be taken to have the alcohol enter the body cavity, for if it does not do so the specimens will not be well preserved. The alcohol may be injected by means of a hypodermic syringe, or slits may be cut through the skin of the belly. These slits usually should be about half an inch long. One is ordinarily sufficient in ease of a lizard, but in snakes several incisions should be made at interval of three or four inches. The speci- mens having been thus prepared, and labeled with the exact locality and date of collection, as well as with the collector’s name and any notes upon habits, colors, etc., should be placed in strong alcohol. Care should be’ taken not to crowd the specimens into small jars with too little alcohol, for if this be done the reptiles will decay. If the number of jars at hand is so small as to necessitate crowding, the alcohol should be renewed each day until the specimens are thoroughly cured, after which only enough alcohol to cover them is needed. 22 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. The descriptions in the following pages are based upon alcoholic specimens, except in a few instances where it is distinctly stated that fresh specimens have been used. Alcohol does not preserve the colors of reptiles well, so that living reptiles usually are more brightly colored than the descriptions indicate. In the determination of colors Ridgway’s ‘‘ Nomenclature of Colors” has been used as a guide. Measurements are given in millimeters, but may readily be converted into inches by allowing twenty-five (25.4) millimeters to one inch. The tail is measured from the anus. Limbs are measured from the side of the body to the tip of the longest toe, excluding the claw. Many of the outline figures of the heads, etc., of snakes are after Baird. Other figures are original, having been drawn by Miss Anna L. Brown. I add here a glossary of some of the terms used in works upon herpetology. GGLOSSARY. Abdominal.—Pertaining to the lower surface of the body. Abdominal plates. —Gastrosteges of snakes; the fourth pair of plastral plates of turtles. Alveolar surface.—Masticatory surfaces just within the cutting edges of the jaws of turtles. Anal plate.—The large scale just in front of the anus in most snakes, sometimes divided; one of the last pair of plastral plates. Anteorbital.—See preocular. Anterior.—Toward the head. Antocular.—See preocular. Antorbitar.—See preocular. Anus.—The external opening of the cloaca. Axilla.—The armpit. REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. pe Avitlary.—Plates on the anterior surface of the bridge of turtles. Azygous.—Single; not one of a pair. Brachials.—Large scales on the arm. Bridge.—That portion of the shell of a turtle which attaches the plastron to the carapace. Canthus rostralis.—A slight continuation of the super- ciliary ridge separating the top from the side of the snout. Carapace.—The upper portion of the shell of turtles. Carinate.—Keeled. Chin shields.—See geneials. Cloaca.—A common chamber at the postertor ends of the alimentary and urogenital canals. Collar.—Gular fold, especially of Tecde. Costals.—The large plates on the sides of the carapace. Dermal.—Pertaining to the skin. Femoral pores. —Glands along the lower surface of the thigh. Femorals.—Of turtles, the fifth pair of plastral plates; of lizards, plates on the thigh. Frenal—See loreal. Frontal—The large plate or plates on top of the head between the supraoculars. Sometimes applied to the prefrontals. Frontoparietal.—Plates on top of the head between the parietals and the frontal. Gastrosteges.—Large plates along the lower surface of the body in most, snakes. Gustrostiga.—See gastrosteges. Geneials.—Large scales behind the mental of many snakes, often in two pairs—anterior and posterior. Gular fold.—Transverse fold of skin of throat. Gular plates. —The first pair of plastral plates. 24 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Gulars.—Scales on throat. Humevrals.—The second pair of plastral plates. Imbricate.—Lapped, ad shingles. Inferior.—Lower. Infralabials.—Plates on the lower lip. Inguinals.—Plates on the posterior surface of the bridge of turtles. Internasals.—Scales on the top of the snout just behind the rostral plate. Interparietal.—A plate on top of the head (of lizards) between the parietals and usually containing the pineal spot. Juaxtaposed.—Placed side by side, not imbricate. Keel.—A ridge along a scale like the keel on an over- turned boat. Labials.—Plates on the lips; specially, on the upper lip. Laterals.—Seales on the sides; the costals of turtles. Loral.—See loreal. Loreal.—In the space between the preodulars and nasals. Maculate.—Marked. Marginals.—The plates around the edge of the carapace. Mental.—Same as symphyseal, but usually of snakes. Mucronate.—Provided with a point or spine. Nuchal plate.—The unpaired marginal plate of turtles on the median line at the front of the carapace. Occipitals.—Plates behind the parietals. Sometimes ap- plied to the parietals. : Parietals.—In most snakes, the largest and last plates on top of the head; in lizards, plates at the side of the interparietal and behind the frontoparietals. Pectoral platés.—The third pair of plastral plates. Plastral.—Pertaining to the plastron. Plastron.—The lower portion of the shell of turtles. Postabdominal.—Anal plate. REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 25 Postanal.—Behind the anus, especially a pair of large plates in the males of some lizards. Posterior.—Toward the tail. Postfrontals.—See prefrontals. Postgeneials. —The posterior pair of geneials. Postmentals.—Plates behind the mental. See sublabial and geneial. Postocular.—Bounding the orbit behind. Preanal.—In front of the anus. Preanal pores.—Glands opening in front of the anus. Prefrontal.—Scales between internasals and frontal. Sometimes applied to the internasals. Pregeneials.—The anterior pair of geneials. Prenasal.—Anterior nasal. Preocular.—Bordering the orbit in front. Pseudopreocular.—Small plate or plates below the preoc- ular. Reticulate.—Marked with lines like the meshes of a net. Rostral.—Plate on the tip of the snout. Scute.—A scale, especially a large flat one. Subcaudals.—Urosteges. Sublabials.—Plates below the infralabials. Subocular.—Scales between the eye and the supralabials. Superciliary.—Along the upper, outer edge of the orbit. _ Sometimes applied to the supraoculars of snakes. Superior.—Upper. Supracaudal.—Over the tail; the last pair of marginal plates of turtles, sometimes united. Supralabials.—Upper labials. Also called superior labials or labials. Supraocular.—Of snakes, the large scale over the eye; of lizards, the scales over the eye excepting the superciliaries. Sulure.—The line of joining. 26 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Symphysal.—See symphyseal. Symphyseal.—The scale on the tip of the lower jaw, especially of lizarés. See mental. Symphysial.—See symphyseal. Urosteges.—Large scales on the lower surface of the tail in most snakes. Vent.—The anus. Ventrals.—Gastrosteges. Vertebrals.—The large plates along the middle of the carapace. Vertical.—F rontal. A.—Anal 7.—Inguinal. Ab.—Abdominal. M.—Marginal. Ax.—Axillary. N.—Nuchal. C.—Costal. P.—Pectoral. F.—Femoral. Sc.—Supracaudal. G.—Gular. V.—Vertebral. H.—Humerals. REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. i 1.—Rostral. 2.—Anterior nasal. 3.—Posterior nasal. 4.—Loreal. 5.—Preocular. 6.—Postoculars. 7.—Superior labials. 8.—Mental or symphyseal. 9.—Inferior labials. 10.—Internasals. 11.—Prefrontals. 12.—Supraoculars. 13.—Frontal. 14.—Parietals. 15.—Pregeneials. 16.—Postgeneials. 17.—Temporals. 18.—Gastrosteges. 28 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Class REPTILIA. The reptiles of the Pacific Coast and Great Basin be- long to two great groups, to which they may be referred by the following SYNOPSIS OF ORDERS. a.—Body protected by a bony carapace or shell, covered with horny plates or leathery skin, jaws horny, without teeth. (Turtles.) Testudines.—p. 28. a’.—Body not protected by a bony carapace; jaws provided with teeth.* (lizards and is aakes)\ hers ste eee eee Squamata.—p. 28. Order I. TESTUDINES. The Testudinide is, as yet, the only family of turtles known to be represented on the Pacific Coast and in the Great Basin. SKinosternon of the Kinosternide, how- ever, lives in the Gila River of Arizona, and probably will be found in the Colorado as well. A species of Trionychide has been described} as having been taken in the Sacramento River, California. The skull of the type is missing, but in other respects the specimen ap- pears to agree with the descriptions of a Chinese spe- cles (sinensis). In view of this, and the additional tact that its describer afterward obtained several specimens of his supposed new species from Chinamen in San Francisco,} I cannot admit ‘‘Pelodiscus californianus”’ to be of Californian origin. * The lower jaw only bears teeth in the Leptotyp hlopide. t See Rivers, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci. (2), IL. 1889. p. 233; Baur, Proc. Am. Philos. Soc., XXXI, 1893, pp. 218, 220. t Dr. G. Baur has compared the skeleton of one of these specimens with that of P. sinensis and writes me that the two do not belong to the same species. Even admitting that the specimen which Rivers sent Dr. Baur is specifically identical with the type, I cannot admit that this turtle is indigenous to California until less questionable evidence of its occurrence here has been obtained. REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 29 Family Il. TESTUDINIDA. This widely distributed family contains a large num- ber of turtles distinguished from others chiefly by osteo- logical characters. The sheil is firmly ossified, and covered with large horny plates of which eleven or twelve are on the plastron. The pectoral plates are in contact with the marginals. The latter are twenty-four or twenty-five in number. The neck can be completely drawn into the shell. Three genera are represented in the area under consideration. SYNOPSIS OF GENERA. a.—Feet not club-shaped, webbed; two supracaudal plates; skin on top of head not divided into scales. b.—Suture between abdominal plates less than twice length of suture between pectorals; inguinal plates not wedged in between abdominals and marginals.............. Clemmys.—p. 29. b?.—Suture between abdominal plates about twice length of suture between pectorals; inguinal plates wedged in between abdomi- me) seam dem ar Cin ell Sweeny eset tetra ci Chrysemys.—p. 32. a?.—Feet club-shaped, not webbed; one supracaudal plate; skin on top of head divided into scales......... svat aies situsstSaiees Gopherus.—p. 35. Genus 1. CLEMMYS. “‘ sides and on the tips of = the gastrosteges. The su- “—- praocular shows an indis- tinct transverse streak. A brown streak runs from the eye to the corner of the mouth. The tail is ash-color with half rings of brown, which are much darker near its tip than anteriorly. The lower surfaces are yellow- ish white, sometimes faintly clouded with brown or gray. engi to wmnuse——\s..0 Aseacae eee oe Wee ie cab oss 415 440 450 henoth ofgtarh tograttley, . alyescneta race ease ayes ce teres 6 38 42 31 Distribution.—The Sidewinder occupies the lower lev- els of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts, where the Tiger Rattler occurs in the mountainous districts, and ranges thence across western Arizona and southern Nevada to ‘‘southwestern Utah.” In California it has been taken near Salton, in the Colorado Desert; at Lone Pine, in Owen’s Valley; in Panamint Valley; at Borax Flat; at Bennett Wells, Death Valley; and at Pilot Knob. It is known to occur in Nevada in Pahrump, Vegas, and In- dian Spring Valleys, at Sarcobatus Flat, in the Amar- gosa Desert, and in the valleys of the Virgin and Lower Muddy. 224 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. Habits.—In certain parts of its range, this species is very numerous. ‘‘Its local name is derived from its peculiar mode of progression: when disturbed it moves away sideways, keeping its broadside toward the observer, instead of proceeding in the usual serpentine manner. x * %* * One was shot containing a kangaroo rat (Dipodomys) and two pocket mice (Perognathus). Fi Se ae During, the latter partiot Apmlandathe early part of May these rattlesnakes were often found in pairs and were doubtless mating. At such times they remained out in plain sight over night instead of re- treating to holes or shelter under desert brush, and on two occasions they were found by us on cold mornings so early that they were too chilled to move until consid- erably disturbed.” * 76—Crotalus mitchellii Cope. BLEACHED RATTLESNAKE. Caudisona mitchellii, Copzr, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1861, p. 293 (type locality Cape St. Lucas, Lower California). Caudisona pyrrha, Copr, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1866, pp. 308, 310 (type locality Canon Prieto near Ft. Whipple, Arizona); Cougs, Surv. W. 100th Merid., V, 1875, p. 608, pl. XXII. Crotalus mitchellii, Cop, Bull. U. 8. Nat. Mus., No. 1, 1875, pp. 33, 92; VAN DENBURGH, Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., (2), IV, 1894, p. 450; Id. ibid., V, 1895, p. 159; StEINEGER, Rep. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1893 (1895), p. 454. Crotalus pyrrhus, STEIN., W. Am. Scient., VII, April, 1891, p. 165. Crotalus Mitchellii pyrrhus, Stresn., Rep. U. 8S. Nat. Mus., 1893 (1895), p. 456. Description.—Moderately large. Head rather small, with flattened top, varying in outline according to posi- tion of fangs, etc. Rostral either higher than wide or wider than high, separated from anterior nasal by one or two rows of granular scales. Usually two nasals. Supraocular large, somewhat projecting laterally, sepa- rated from its fellow by from four to eight scales. * Merriam, N. A. Fauna No, 7. 1893, p. 217. REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 225 Fourteen to seventeen superior and fourteen to eighteen inferior labials, first pair of latter meeting in front of a single pair of geneials. Three to five rows of scales between supralabials and eye. Scales in twenty-five or twenty-seven rows, keeled except sometimes in one or two rows of each side. Gastrosteges varying from one hundred and fifty-eight to one hundred and ninety- eight. Urosteges seventeen to twenty-seven, a few of the posterior sometimes divided. The general color is white, gray, yellow, vinaceous-cin- namon, or salmon-red, minutely dotted with black or brown, and with a series of indefinite brown, black, or red blotches along the back. These dots and dorsal blotches, oe a 2 he a fs a : - ee oe Ee: S, as well as smailer blotches which sometimes are present on the top of the head and on the sides, may be so faint as to cause the animal to be called the White Rattle- snake, or so dark as to produce a blackish effect; the blotches, however, never have definite outlines, appear- ing only as darker portions of the general ‘‘ pepper and salt’ style of coloration. A dark band sometimes runs down and back from the eye. The tail is gray, with black cross-bars. The lower surfaces are white or yellow, usually more or less clouded with brown. Length to anus........ 1: Ses Poneto nee ats 710 770 810 840 870 930 Hength of talito rattles .....5 52.25.06 62 74 72 60 71 90 Distribution.—This rattlesnake has been found in the Colorado Desert, near Mountain Springs, San Diego 226 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. County, California, and in the Mojave Desert. It has been taken in Arizona, and ranges the whole length of the peninsula of Lower California. Habits.—This seems to be distinctively a desert species. Like other rattlesnakes, it is ovoviviparous. A specimen taken at San José del Cabo, in September, contained three young about 260 mm. in length. 77.-—Crotalus ruber (Cope). WrstTeRN DiamMonp RATTLE- SNAKE. Crotalus adamanteus ruber, Corr, Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus., XIV, 1891, p. 690 (type locality unknown.) Crotalus atrox ruber, STEJNEGER, Rep. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1893 (1895), p. 439. Crotalus ruber, VAN DENBURGH, Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. (2), V, 1895, p. 1007. Description.—Large. Head broad, flat-topped, vary- ing in outline according to position of fangs, ete. Ros- tral usually higher than wide, in contact with anterior nasal. Two nasals. Usually two preoculars and two to four internasals. A large scale just in front of supra- ocular. Supraocular large but not raised into a horn- like process; separated from its fellow by six or seven irregular rows of scales. About sixteen or seventeen superior and seventeen to nineteen inferior labials; first pair of latter not meeting on median line in front of ‘single pair of genials.: About four rows of scales be- tween supralabials and eye. Scales in twenty-seven to twenty-nine rows, of which one or two on each side are smooth. Gastrosteges varying from one hundred and eighty-six to one hundred and ninety-nine. Urosteges twenty-two to twenty-six. The general color is light red, reddish cinnamon, or brownish yellow, with a series of large, darker blotches along the back. These blotches are sometimes very REPTILES OF THE PACIFIC COAST. 227 indefinite, especially toward the sides. On the middle of the back they are separated by light yellow or white. This light edging may or may not be continued onto the sides, where smaller indefinite dark blotches may often be seen. The head is unicolor above. A faint Se, Soe oe x6 acs oa o% ss = oe ss Se, = Ss ' \) \) ALARA TRA CAM) AXY na ay eon Nee etieny, i , MW LAMA AY) AY, Hivie’, eee light stripe crosses the side of the face from the pre- ocular plates to the mouth. The scales behind and above this light stripe area Jittle darker than the ground color and sometimes are set off posteriorly by a light line running down and back from the posterior corner of the eye and striking the supralabials in front of the corner of the mouth. The tail is ash-color, with from three to 228 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. five black rings or cross-bars. The lower surfaces are yellowish, often faintly clouded with light brown. Beneth, (0 vans. spas eae oe: x t-be ele lisp eigenen kaa epehctene 935 1080 leneth oittailjtopratiler. eps. o..<.< dele eel oer ec eienar 55 75 Distribution.—This, the largest rattlesnake of the West, was first described from a specimen of unknown origin. It has since been found on the western slopes of San Diego and Riverside Counties, at Twin Oaks, San Jacinto, and De Luz. INDEX. Synonyms are given in italics; Ablabes purpureocauda.....e+s.ssee+se0- 162 HAUT Gano dornpas ocpocosbacegseacnacsg. LUP FLAN aT Sage Deb obs fp bordannepace sesnne Py) MUATMON ALG Voces actos RORanACOse cen adamanteus atrox (Crotalus)............ 216 Tuo Er (CLOCALUS) cn .jolels siars s(elete ateiare erate 226 var. lucifer (Crotalus).............. 216. LEXChMOPhryS.....--0000% nagosty 56 amsa06 215 COP ASLESH ainve elalsictoiotaiaioini=)e/s/srei= SSoncnss 222 Agama Douglassti....-.....0e seers sence 90 agassizii (Gopherus).........12, 14, 20, 35 CLESHAAO) sete, cio ftom oie \sis. 186 THOTT cep OBOOEBOSBSEC GO EnGac e-see-e-- 102 | flagellum frenatum (Bascanion)....... HOTMLOS EL cia 2\~e'o)s «sien Leopard......... WLC ANS Alia eising alate ipinininie elalcieist/elelpiaie/=ia Mountain ........ aialorinisie) BR MEE ey. TU GHoninnbaqode enccuoaoudede 13,15, 74, 86 SULLY OL OUVILS «in )oletatn afer ialetalenas eieistelel siete 80 VANAENDUTYTANUS.. 2.2.62 cs ecereaee 74 RAMON ca oswee Goblsgododbsasas sone 70 scincicauda (Higaria)............+«+++- 103 (Gerrhonotus).....-. 13, 19, 102, 103, 104 palmert (Gerrhonotus)............. 113 (EE opidolepts) mere tetsiateete) ta letatetel=aretale 103 SCINCIGw Rawle eee eseiele cielsiata choles eieetele 38, 143 SOrpentesicneasisctcteleleisiistnalcttelelalietetelstor 150 Sharp-Tailed Snake.. ............. ... 162 Short-Nosed Leopard Lizard.... ...... 59 Sig ZOMOG OMe aero reteiaieletarote te leteletatelatetateliels 150 Nhumilisipeceecds o4.secieeteeae Los 2 lOO) SiG@ WAG Ow yareretetetatclar-lalersarelatelstetetaheteistatelate 222 silus (Crotaphytus)......-.... 12, 16, 53, 59 Silver Snake sence casicceeeeniecosseh Le Silvery Footless Lizard........-.....-- 116 simplex (Lichanura) ... ......-+seeeeee 152 sirtalis concinna (Hutwnia).......+.00-- 204 parietalis (Huteenia)... .....+..0e- 201 pickeringti (Hutenia) .... 12. eeeee 204 tetrateenia (Buteenia)......2.00.--- 201 trilineata (Eutcenia) .. ......00 201, 204 var. parietalis ( Tropidonotus)...... 201 skiltonianum (Plestiodon)..........e00 144 skiltonianus (Eumeces).........-13,19, 144 Skilton’s Skink.............cccecsevcce 146 Skink, Red-Headed..................00. 147 Skilton’s...... Welifeiniale/etoru sveteva ctaraletal= 146 IWIGH COLT merteretelelerereleinialsloleioisisieicisynys! 144, 146 smaragdinus (Sceloporus).............- 80 SNARES werep celseteiets elelersle sin !loreisletersierelelere .. 150 Snake, Boyle’s Milk ........--.s00++-. 169 INDEX. 235 Snake, Burrowing........ picteiverslejeioiwisievels 159 elie ey i.sise se area's wareaaa ya oate er eere 38, 132 GalifornianGarters. +. cc. .cec. oes 212 Terrapins PaAcihCrose cite steele sun cdeeteee 30 CalifaorniacKan Perce. iteicletsicieiisiciacias ie 167 lessellata ((Ametva)ic, «minvarelnlenionciastenia 134 OaliformT ali Es cye<) cre cic: . x y , 5 3 ) + 2