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Contributions to Texan herpet

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CONTRIBUTIONS
TO
TEXAN HERPETOLOGY

sae
BY JOHN K. STRECKER, JR.
Curator of ‘Baylor University Museum

 

 

 

 

 

Founded in 1845, at Independence
Under the Republic of Texas

ne

Be for University Bulletin Entered at the Post-Office
Volume XII at Waco, Texas, as Second-
Number 1 Class Matter -

JANUARY, 1909
A263) \3

~Copies of this number or other issues of the
BAYLOR BULLETIN will be sent free to the
address of any one who will write to the Reg=
istrar forsame. It is issued once every two
months.

H. L. HARGROVE F. M. ALLEN
Editor Registrar
Paplor University Bulletin

PUBLISHED SI-MONTHLY AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, WACO, TEXAS

HENRY LEE HARGROVE, Pu. D. FRANCIS MARION ALLEN
EDITOR MANAGER

 

 

Notes on the Herpetology of Burnet County, Texas

BY JOHN K. STRECKER, JR.
Curator of Baylor University Museum

The present list of reptiles and amphibians is based largely on collections
made by the writer during the months of August, 1902, and July and August,
1906. On both of my visits to the county, I had exceptional opportunities to
collect material and I am under obligations to Messrs. D. G. Sherrard, L. L.
Chamberlain, Charles and Hansford Stapp for many courtesies extended to
me. ‘These gentlemen kindly provided me with horses and vehicles whenever
I needed them and in many other ways displayed an interest in my work.

In the town of Burnet, I examined two small collections of local reptiles.
The only specimens of special interest in these two lots were poorly preserved

examples ofZamenis constrictor flaviventris Say and Gerrhonotus liocephalus
infernalis Baird, both of which species I failed to secure personally.

‘Burnet county is located in the south-central part of the State and is bounded
on the north by Lampasas, on the east by Bell, Williamson and Travis, on the
south: by Blanco and on the west by San Saba and Llano Counties. The area
is 1,010 square miles. On the west the Colorado River divides Burnet from
the south-eastern corner of San Saba and forms most of the boundarWline be-
tween it and Llano County. A few miles north of the southern boundary of
Burnet, the river changes its course south and south-east and flows through
the county in the direction of Austin.

My’ explorations were principally extended along the following tributaries
of the Colorado: Hamilton on the right hand and Clear, Spring, Peter’s, and
Morgan’s Creek on the left hand. Honey and Delaware, two small right-
hand tributaries of Hamilton Creek were also followed for a considerable dis-
tance. The bed of the Colorado, when the river is low, is a wide expanse of
red granite with a channel of swift-running water dividing it in the midde and
with numerous water-filled hollows scattered along on both sides. A short
distance above the mouth of Spring Creek is an island of considerable extent
which separates the river into two channels and is sometimes overflowed during
heavy rises. About two-thirds of this island is under cultivation, but I have
forgotten its area.

Several of the canyons in the hills, through which some of the tributaries of
the river flow, are well worth seeing. The Morgan Creek canyon in particu-
lar is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Numerous springs
2 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN

 

trickle down its damp walls, from under matted masses of many varieties of
fern. At one place, near the top of the left hand wall of the canyon, a colony
of Cliff Swallows have located their little city of retort-shaped nests. The
creek is evidently fed entirely by springs and in some places it is a difficult
matter to follow its windings, on account of the narrowness of the canyon and
the slipperiness of the moist, fern-covered rocks. A magnificent natural grotto
is located about three miles above the mouth.

Another locality famed for its beauty is Mormon Mills, midway between
Burnet and Marble Falls. Here the canyon, falls, and deep pool, together
with the old water wheel made by the Mormons who settled the county in
early days, form a scenic combination worthy of an artist’s best efforts. I did
not visit Mormon Mills during my second visit but I understand that the old
water-wheel is still in existence.

The town of Burnet is located in the central portion of the county and has
an elevation of 1,300 feet. Most of the surrounding hills are merely great
masses of stone or granite, either covered with a growth of cedar or utterly
bare of vegetation. Some of these attain a height of over 1,800 feet. Post
Mountain near Burnet is 1,556 feet high.

The reptilian fauna of Burnet County is largely Sonoran, Chihuahuan forms
predominating. A careful study of the present list, together with that of the
writer's former paper* on the species inhabiting the more eastern county of
McLennan, will prove beyond a doubt the correctness of Dr. Arthur Erwin
Brown’s view** that the boundary between the Austroriparian and Sonoran
reptilian faunas lies approximately between the ninety-sixth and the ninety-
eighth meridians in Texas.

Taking into consideration the fact that the writer has been collecting reptiles
in his home county (McLennan) for more than fourteen years and that his
work in Burnet was accomplished in less than three months, it can readily be
seen that while the number of Chihuahuan, Basin, and Central species found
in both localities is about the same, the typical Austroriparian forms found at
Waco out-number those of Burnet three to one.

About one-half of the Sonoran forms recorded from Waco are not known
to occur east of that place and several Austroriparian species found at Burnet
are not known from west of the granite country. Burnet County marks the
eastern boundary to the range of Uta ornata B. and G., Eumeces brevil-
ineatus Cope and (probably) Crotalus confluentus Say and Zamenis taeniatus
Hallowell. Several of the reptiles and amphibians show the characters of
more western forms of the same species. For instance, the chain-snakes (Lam-
propeltis getula holbrookii) are an approach to the variety splendidus Cope,
and the common toads (Bufo 1. americanus) are much larger and darker than
eastern Texas examples and have noticeably shorter heads. My single Tham-
nophis eques is much like examples from Trans-Pecos Texas (Alpine) and
very different from obscurely marked Waco specimens. Only about four out
of each half-dozen examples of Crotaphytus collaris have a single row of in-
terorbitals.

* Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. X XI, 1908, pp. 69-84. ** Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1903, p. 551
TEXAN HERPETOLOGY 3

 

REPTILIA.
Crotaphytus collaris Say. Ring-necked Lizard.

This handsome lizard is more or less common in suitable localities through-
out the county but shows a decided preference for limestone districts. None
were found on the dark sandstone beyond Clear Creek but a few frequent
boulders near Granite Mountain. ‘The food of this species consists largely of
crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and other insects. It also preys on other lizards,
especially the species of Holbrookia and the smaller Scelopori. Blossoms of
plants were found in the stomachs of several of my specimens.

Young examples were tolerably common during the early part of July and I
could detect no difference between their habits and those of the adults. Each
specimen selects some particular boulder or flat rock as a basking place, and
gives it up only when driven off by a larger and more powerful member of its
species. Large males are wicked fighters, true “bullies” of the lizard tribe.
The natives consider this lizard as poisonous as a rattlesnake. Local names,
“mountain boomer” and “bull lizard.’ Specimens were collected in the follow-
ing localities: Granite Mountain, Burnet (road leading past Post Moun-
tain), Honey Creek, Clear Creek, Llano road (seven miles out from Burnet),
Lion Mountain and near Mormon Mills. The largest and finest examples
were obtained near Lion Mountain. Here they were found basking on large
flat rocks lying along the roadside. As soon as we would drive near a speci-
men, it would raise the fore part of the body to the fully length of the fore-
limbs and remain in this pose until one of us attempted to leave the wagon.
Then it would scamper off to a hiding place under another rock and when
found would be coiled up snake fashion in a small hollow.

In a large series of these lizards from Burnet County only about 40 per
cent have the single row of interorbitals of typica} co/laris while the remaining
60 per cent are about equally divided between those with a double row and
those in which the two rows are fused. Several of the older examples with
double rows have unusually broad heads and are undoubtedly intermediates
between the typical subspecies and the variety baileyi of Trans-Pecos Texas
and the Proplateau of New Mexico and Arizona.

The eggs of this species range from four to twelve in number and are de-
posited in the ground at a depth of two or three inches. My friend J. D.
Mitchell, found C. collaris breeding in Llano County during the month of
August.

Flolbrookia texana Troschel. Texas Spotted Lizard.

This is one of the most abundant of the Burnet County Lizards. In some
sections of the State, these handsome little saurians are confined principally to
the rocky banks of certain streams but here they occur indiscriminately. I
found them on the mountain sides living among rocks, on the steep cliffs of the
canyon at Mormon Mills, among brush along roadsides, and even on the sandy
flats where they were burrowing under the roots of shrubs and trees. On the
sandstone bluffs beyond Clear Creek I captured several examples of a dark,
4 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN

 

reddish form of this species. ‘These specimens, after remaining in spirits for
nearly two years, could be readily distinguished from the large series from
other localities that were contained in the same jar. When pursued, these
lizards make no attempt to escape by entering the burrows of other animals
but usually run from rock to rock until after they have been routed out several
times and then make a final break for the cover of weeds and brush. I have
chased them into water and for a distance of three or four yards they can swim
fairly well. Central Texas examples of this species do not display as bright
colors as those in the Trans-Pecos region, even during the breeding season.

Cnemidophorus gularis Baird and Girard. Western Lined Lizard.

This species is as common in the hills as it is along the streams and in the
lowlands. Along rocky roadsides it is usually found in company with Cro-
taphytus collaris and Holbrookia texana.

On the south side of Post Mountain I shot several adult lined lizards marked
exactly like sexlineatus, with no traces of light spots between the lines and
with fewer femoral pores, but as they had the long muzzles of gudaris and the
ante-brachial plates were present, I refer them to the latter species.

Uta ornata Baird and Girard. Ornate Lizard.

This handsome little Uta is tolerably common on trees and rail fences be-
young Clear Creek. A few examples were collected on rocks near the mouth
of Spring Creek. My specimens are probably the first to be recorded from
any locality in Central Texas.

Sceloporus consobrinus Baird and Girard. Marcy’s Fence Lizard.

In some localities this interesting species is quite common, in others exceed-
ingley rare. Specimens were collected in the following places: Sherrard’s
Ranch, Post Mountain, Clear Creek, Morgan Canyon, and at the mouth of
Spring Creek.

In August, 1902, a large number of these lizards were collected around the
bases of small trees and in brush heaps on Post Mountain, but when I revisited
the same place four years later a single immature example was all that I could

find.

Sceloporus spinosus Weigmann. Texas Scaly Lizard.

This tree lizard is common and a large number of examples were collected.
These differ greatly from those from the northern part of the State. Ex-
amples from the latter section have a dull greenish ground color and the mark-
ings are not as well defined. None of the Burnet County specimens show the
slightest tinge of green, the lateral stripes vary from white to buff-yellow in
different individuals and the markings (especially the transverse bars in the
female), are coal black and unusually distinct. Several old specimens collected
on rail fences in the woods were almost black.

Phrynosoma cornutum Harlan. Texas Horned Lizard.
A few examples of this species were collected on the flats near Burnet but
TEXAN HERPETOLOGY 5

 

none were observed in the other sections of the county.
Lieolepisma laterale Say. Ground Lizard.

Specimens of this slender little saurian were collected in almost every locality
visited. They were especially abundant in Peter’s Canyon. Toward dusk
one evening I caught ten or eleven that were stirred out of the rank ‘water
grass growing alongside the creek. They attempted to escape by squirming up
the sides of the canyon but were easily captured.

Eumeces brevilineatus Cope. Short-lined Skink.

This interesting skink lizard is not uncommon and inhabits open woods as
well as the more secluded canyons in the hills. In 1902 I saw a number of
specimens but only succeeded in capturing one. In 1906 I made a special
effort to collect a series and was successful in obtaining eight examples, five
adults and three young. Its habits are similar to those of Leiolepisma and I
usually found them associated together in the same localities. At the White
Eagle Copper Mine I collected both species under the same log in several in-
stances. The average length of five adult specimens is 60mm. (muzzle to
vent). The total length of an adult with perfect tail is 172 mm.

The adult specimen is plumbeous above, light olive below. Tail colored
like the body. A light band extends along the upper lip to a short distance
behind the axilla, and another from the end of the muzzle over the eye to the
corresponding point on the side, separated by two longitudinal rows of scales.
In the adult these bands are either white or light cream color.

Young examples are similar to adults in markings but not in color. The
upper surfaces vary from plumbeous to brownish olive, the light bands are buff
and the tail is bright ultramarine blue. In hunting among dead leaves for
these lizards, it is comparatively easy to keep track of young specimens on ac-
count of the color of the tail which renders them very conspicuous, but in the
case of the adults it is quite different as their more uniform colors harmonize
well with their surroundings. Their movements are wonderfully active and
on this account, their capture is not an easy task. Their tails are as easily
broken as those of Leiolepisma and the least rough usage will cause their scales
to slip in patches. Specimens of this skink are still rare in collections and our
knowledge of its distribution is very limited. It does not appear to be found
outside of Texas. Cope records specimens from two localities, i. e. Helotes,
Bexar County and Fort Concho, Tom Green County. Vernon Bailey men-
tions a single specimen collected at Paisano, Brewster County, by William
Lloyd. It doubtless occurs in all of the hill and mountain counties of the
west-central and western parts of the State, but it is a species that is likely to
be overlooked by any person who is not devoting his whole energies to reptile
collecting. The collecting of my small series necessitated the turning over of
scores of logs and large stones, and the tearing up of every mass of decaying
wood and accumulation of dead leaves along my route. Probably 75 per cent
6 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN

 

of the specimens seen by me succeeded in escaping.
This species is less diurnal in its habits than Eumeces quinquelineatus.

Eumeces obsoletus Baird and Girard. Western Skink.

A magnificent example of this fine skink, measuring 348 mm. in total length,
was captured on the Atkinson Ranch near the mouth of Spring Creek. It had
fallen into a well that Mr. Atkinson was digging and he kindly refrained from
disturbing it until he could notify me. It had concealed itself by burrowing
and we had some difficulty in locating it, but finally routed it out by stirring
the loose earth with a stick.

Eumeces tetragrammus Baird. Baird’s Skink.
A specimen of this skink was found under a log near Honey Creek.
Gerrhonotus liocephalus infernalis Baird. Texas Gerrhonotus.

Mr. H. Whitney collected one specimen of this rare species at White Bluff,
on the Morgan, and it is now in my collection. The collector informed me
that it was very pugnacious and when cornered, reared up on its hind legs and
snapped at his hands viciously.

Crotalus atrox Baird and Girard. Texas Diamond Rattlesnake.

An example 750 mm. in length was found under a pile of rocks lying along-
side the Fort Mason Road. ‘This was the only one captured by me. Several
skins on exhibition in Burnet were considerably over five feet in length.

Crotalus confluentus Say. Plains Rattlesnake.

In September, 1906, Mr. Chamberlain captured a good-sized example of
this species about three miles from Burnet. It must be rare as this was the
first one he had ever seen.

Ancistrodon contortrix Linn. Copperhead.
This species is said to be common, but I did not meet with it personally. I
have one example collected at Burnet by Chamberlain.

Ancistrodon piscivorus Lacepede. Cottonmouth.
‘Two specimens from Delaware Spring and Morgan Creek. The example
from the last named locality was a female containing seven embryos,
Glauconia dulcis Baird and Girard. Worm Snake.
An August, 1002, I collected a half-grown specimen of this species in a
moist place near Delaware Creek. In 1906 an adult was found under a log
near White Eagle Copper Mine.
Heterodon platyrhinus Latreille. Blowing Adder.
A large, brightly marked specimen was killed in the town of Burnet during
my second visit. It was of the banded type, in color and markings mimicking
Ancistrodon contortrix. This locality is well within the range of H. nascius,
and I was surprised, when I examined this specimen, to find that it belongea
to the eastern species. :

Cyclophis aestivus Linn. Southern Green Snake.
Seven or eight specimens were observed at different times. ‘The three speci-
TEXAN HERPETOLOGY 7

 

mens in my collction were obtained between Burnet and Mormon Mills.

Tantilla gracilis Baird and Girard. Graceful Tantilla.
Three adult specimens were found under logs near the White Eagle Mine.
Zamenis flagellum Shaw. Coach-whip Snake.

Abundant, attaining a large size. Specimens were collected or observed in
every locality visited. Most of these were gorged with locusts.

Zamenis contrictor flaviventris Say. Yellow-bellied Racer.
‘This racer must be rare, as the poorly preserved specimen in one of the local
collections before mentioned, is the only one I have seen.

Zamenis taeniatus Hallowell. Mountain Racer.

Two fine examples from Clear Creek and Morgan Canyon. ‘These speci-
mens are dark, lustrous greenish-olive above, the lateral stripes are white and
the lower surfaces excepting on the troat and tail, are closely and minutely
blotched with greenish slate. The tail is pink below, the throat white. In
the living specimen, the under parts are more or less suffused with red, which
soon fades out in the preserving fluid. The color on the under surface of the
tail is more lasting and is retained by one of my specimens which has now
been in spirits for over eighteen months. The two specimens measure 1600
and 1650 mm. respectively.

The natives know this snake as the black or mountain racer in contra-dis-
tinction to the prairie racer as the coach-whip is commonly called. It is very
difficult to capture as it readily climbs rocks and trees and is so rapid in its
movements that it is almost impossible for one person to follow it close enough
to be able to grasp it by hand.

Coluber emoryi Baird and Girard. Emory’s Pilot Snake.
I have one half-grown example from Burnet.
Pityophis catenifer sayi Schlegel. Bull Snake.

I secured only one example of this widely distributed species. It was cap-
tured in a vacant frame building which it had probably entered in quest of
rats and mice.

Lampropeltis getula holbrookii Stejneger. Speckled King Snake.
One half-grown specimen from near Burnet.

Rhinochilus lecontei Baird and Girard. Le Conte’s Snake.
Two specimens. Clear Creek and Morgan Canyon.

Tropidonotus fasciatus transversus Hallowell. Hallowell’s Water Snake.

A large number of specimens of this water snake were obtained at several
points along the Colorado River. Small examples were common in Peter’s,
Delaware, and Spring Creeks. The large specimens were shot while attempt-
ing to rob our fish-boxes.

Tropidonotus rhombifer Hallowell. Diamond Water Snake.
This species is less abundant than transversus and only four specimens were
collected. Hamilton, Delaware and Morgan Creeks.
8 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN

 

Virginia elegans Kenn. Virginia’s Snake.
One specimen was captured near the White Eagle Mine, on Spring Creek.
Thamnophis marcianus Baird and Girard. Marcy’s Garter Snake.

One young example of this checkered Thamnophis was captured in a damp
path running along the side of Delaware Creek. This species is less aquatic
in its habits than the other garter snakes J] am familiar with.

Thamnophis eques Reuss. Reuss Garter Snake.

I captured a very typical example of this rare snake in Morgan Creek Can-
yon, In this specimen the nuchal blotches are very distinct and on each side
of the dorsal line, the spots are fused together, forming a peculiar zigzag longi-
tudinal band.

Thamnophis proximus Say. Say’s Garter Snake.

Specimens of this, the commonest of the Texas species of T’hamnophis, were
collected in every locality I visited. The finest examples were obtained in
Peter’s Caynon.

Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis Say. Western Garter Snake.
One adult specimen was collected near the White Eagle Copper Mine.
Elaps fulvius Linn. Harlequin Snake.

Said to be rather common, but the only specimen I saw living was one that
we discovered in our camp on the Morgan. Mr. Chamberlain collected a
very fine specimen for me, and I saw two in Mr. Whitney’s collection. ‘The
local names for this species are ‘‘corn snake” and “thunder snake.” e

Chrysemys elegans Wied. Elegant Turtle.
Specimens were secured in several of the streams.

Chrysemys texana Baur. Texan Turtle.
Three examples were seined in Morgan Creek.

Aromochelys tristycha Agass. Texas Musk Turtle.

I captured an adult specimen of this turtle in the bed of Delaware Creek.
It had accidently fallen into a dry hollow among the rocks and was unable to
get out.

Kinosternon flavescens Agass. Yellow Mud Turtle.

Specimens of this species were collected in Spring and Morgan Creeks and a
tank near Post Mountain.

A spidonectes emoryi Agass. Emory’s Soft-shelled Turtle.
Common in the Colorado River.

Terrapene ornata Agass. Painted Box Tortoise.
‘Two specimens were found on the flats near Burnet.

Graptemys geographica Le Seur. Map Turtle.

‘Two specimens were seined in the Morgan and several shells were found
on the banks of Delaware Creek.

Graptemys oculifera Baur. Baur’s Turtle: Ocellated Turtle.
A single example was seined in the Morgan Creek.
TEXAN HERPETOLOGY 9

 

AMPHIBIA.

Ambystoma microstomum Cope. Small-mouthed Salamander.
I have one specimen collected neat Marble Falls.

Ambystoma tigrinum Green. Tiger Salamander.
Mr. Chamberlain collected an example of this salamander near Burnet.

Scaphiopus couchii Baird and Girard. Couch’s Spadefoot.

Near Spring Creek, a single example of this species was found half-buried
in moist earth under an old log. It is said to be common in wet weather.
This is on the authority of Chamberlain, who has helped me capture specimens
of this spade-foot at Waco.

Bufo lentiginosus americanus Le Conte. American Toad.
Somewhat common.
Bufo valliceps Wiegmann. Nebulous Toad.

Specimens were collected at Sherrard’s Ranch, White Eagle Mine, Morgan
Caynon, and in a dry wash on Post Mountain.

Bufo punctatus Baird and Girard. Spotted Toad.
I found one specimen of this toad in a hollow log on the Sherrard Ranch
and a second one was captured in a gutter in Burnet during a heavy shower.

Bufo debilis Girard. Green Toad.
Two immature specimens. One was found hopping along a water-filled

rut in the Fort Mason road; the other was found under a stone near the White
Eagle Mine.

Bufo compactilis Wieg. Spade-foot Toad.
Near Lion Mountain, a half-grown specimen of this toad was found under a
stone lying along the road-side.

Rana pipiens Kalm. Leopard Frog.
Leopard frogs from a tank near Post Mountain are typical pipiens.
Rana sphenocephala Cope. Southern Leopard Frog.

Several leopard frogs collected on the Morgan have the long snout and
limbs, white spot in the middle of the tympanum, and peculiar coloration of
this species.

Rana catesbiana Shaw. Bull Frog.

I shot a half-grown example in Delaware Creek. This was the only one
observed by me.

Acris gryllus crepitans Baird. Western Cricket Frog.
Very abundant along all of the water-courses.
Ayla cinerea Daudin. Green Tree Frog.

One example from near Delaware Spring. It was found at the end of a
limb overhanging the water.

Chorophilus triseriatus Wied. Striped Tree Frog.
One specimen was collected near the mouth of Spring Creek.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Collected in Brewster, County, Texas

BY JOHN K. STRECKER, JR.

In the Spring of 1905, the writer undertook an exploration of Brewster
County in Trans-Pecos Texas, in the interest of the Baylor University
Museum. He was accompanied by Mr, William T. Baines of Alpine as
guide and Mr, Earle Prade of Waco as taxidermist.

The base of supplies was Alpine, the county seat of this immense tract of
land which is one of the largest and, physiographically, the roughest, counties
in the State. From the 18th to the 28th of April, we were encarnped at
Paisano Pass on the border of Presidio County, and on the return trip spent
two days at Blackburn’s Ranch, between that point and Cathedral Mountain.

On returning to Alpine we spent two days in outfitting and then crossed the
county from north to south in an attempt to make the higher elevations of the
Chisos Mountains. We first headed in a south-easterly direction, crossing
Calamity Creek, passing by Elephant Mesa and through the Santiago Moun-
tains; thence changed our course to the south-west, crossed Terlingua Creek in
the Cinnabar Region and then south-eastward again into the foot-hills of the
Chisos Range.

Near Paisano, I happened to an accident which placed me on the cripple list
for the rest of the trip. In an attempt to scramble over some high rocks while
_,In pursuit of a rare bird, I had the misfortune to slip and fall a distance of
nearly thirty feet, landing on my stomach on some jagged rocks. As a result,
a large contusion was formed, which, finally developing into an abscess, in-
capacitated me for very active work for several months.

On the trip to Terlingua and beyond, we suffered greatly from the ex-
tremes of heat and cold and from a lack of wholesome drinking water. For
several days we were on a diet of canned fruit and tomatoes, these being about
the only articles of food which were not saturated with either formalin or
kerosene.

As a consequence of these misadventures, the results of the trip were poorer
than we had wished for, but we succeeded in obtaining a small but valuable
collection of birds, a number of mammals and a fairly representative series of
reptiles and amphibians.

After we returned from our attempt to conquer the Chisos, we camped in
Du Bois Canyon for several days and then devoted the rest of our stay in the
county to collecting in the neighborhood of Alpine. As I look back cver the
months of misery which followed in the wake of this “hard-luck” trip, many
of its incidents recur like remembrances of a long-drawn-out nightmare.

To the indefatigable Prade is due much of the credit for the material col-
lected and the observations recorded and I express my gratitude to him and
Baines for their valuable services and cheerful companionship.

In the following list, for the sake of completeness, I have included mention
12 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN

 

of those species obtained by members of the United States Biological Survey
on their trip through Brewster County. (See Bailey, North American Fauna
No. 25; “Biological Survey of Texas.”’)

REPTILIA.

Crotaphytus collaris baileyi Stejn. Bailey’s Ring-necked Lizard.

This fine lizard was common on the “Big Hill” near Alpine, at Blackburn’s
Ranch (six miles from Paisano) and near Elephant Mesa. In five females
obtained on the “Big Hill,” the nuptial coloration was in the form of trans-
verse bands of pink, about four across the body and several on the tail. Dates,
May 7th and 8th. All of my examples exhibit a double row of interorbitals,
so I consider them typical of this much discussed subspecies.

The Biological Survey examples are from the west base of the Chisos Moun-
tains and Paisano.

Crotaphytus wislizenii Baird and Girard. Leopard Lizard.

“A fine large individual of this big spotted lizard was shot near Boquillas
in the Big Bend of the Rio Grande, by McClure Surber * * * The species is
not common and occurs only in the low hot valleys of extreme arid Lower
Sonoran Zone.” (Bailey).

The Big Bend doubtless marks the eastern limit to the range of this fine
species. I saw a large lizard which I supposed to be wislizenii in the hot
desert strip between Butcherknife and Terlingua, but I was too much crippled
to pursue it and the boys were off on a quail hunt and out of call. The breed-
ing colors, in examples from near El] Paso,. sent me while fresh by Messrs.
Townsend and Barber, were gorgeous. The under parts were bright crimson
and the upper parts were spotted with the same color.

Holbrookia texana Troschel. Texan Spotted Lizard.

Inhabits the low, hot desert strips. It was not observed near Alpine but
was extremely abundant from Butcherknife to the base of the Chisos Moun-
tains. The examples collected were so brilliantly colored that I could hardly
realize that they were of the same species that occurs in Central Texas. Re-
corded by Bailey from Boquillas and McKinney Spring.

Holbrookia maculata Girard. Spotted Lizard.

Specimens of this species were obtained at Alpine, Paisano, Du Bois Canyon
and Blackburn’s Ranch. ‘The Biological Survey specimens are from about
the same localities.

The females collected by us are very variable in markings but the upperparts
are uniformly of a light clay color. An interesting series of these lizards was
received at the Museum from Hockley, Yoakum and Garza Counties in the
Plains Region. ‘These are in the breeding colors and are very handsome speci-
mens, although they have now been immersed in formalin for several months.
The males are similar to those from Brewster County but the females are very
TEXAN HERPETOLOGY 13

 

differently colored. The ground color is less buffy and the back is ornamented
with five red stripes, a dorsal and two lateral ones on each side. Between
these stripes are numerous, closely placed brotches of the same color.

Uta stansburiana Baird and Girard. Stansbury’s Lizard.

Prade collected a single example of this brown-shouldered lizard in the arid
strip beyond Elephant Mesa. It was the only one seen by us. Bailey does
not record it from any locality in Brewster County.

Uta ornata Baird and Girard. Ornate Lizard.

This species was quite abundant in Du Bois Canyon and at Paisano, where
they were living among rocks. Several females captured in Du Bois had the
throat colored orange instead of blue, as in the male. Recorded by Bailey
from the Chisos Mountains and Altuda.

Sceloporus torquatus poinsettii Baird and Girard. Poinsett’s Lizard.

Recorded by Bailey from the Chisos Mountains and fifty miles south of
Marathon. We found this fine Sceloporus quite common among rocks on the
Blackburn Ranch. When pursued these lizards seek refuge in narrow crevices
and will permit themselves to be pulled out piecemeal in preference to relin-
quishing their hold.

Sceloporus spinosus clarkii Baird and Girard. Clark’s Lizard.
Boquillas (Bailey). This variety of spinosus is confined, in Texas, to the
Trans-Pecos Region.

Sceloporus consobrinus Baird and Girard. Marcy’s Fence Lizard.
I captured an example of this little fence lizard on an old corral near
Paisano Pass. Prade collected a second along the road past Elephant Mesa.

Sceloporus merriami Stejn. Merriam’s Lizard.
One specimen from Boquillas is recorded by Bailey.

Phrynosoma cornutum Harlan. Texas Horned Lizard.

We collected specimens of this species near Alpine and in the arid strip be-
yond Elephant Mesa. Bailey records it from the Grand Canyon of the Rio
Grande.

Phrynosoma modestum Girard.

Examples were collected about five miles out from Alpine and at various
places along the route to the Chisos.

The ground color, in the series obtained, was very variable, ranging from
light buff to rusty brown and almost coal black.

I have every reason to believe that this species, like the horned lizards of the
douglassti group, is viviparous.

Coleonyx brevis Stejn. . Banded Gecko.

I collected a single example of this little Gecko in the Chisos foot-hills. It
was running around among rocks on a hillside, just before dusk and on account
of its rather feeble movements was easily captured. In the living specimen the
bands were brown and sulphur yellow.
14 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN

 

Gerrhonotus liocephalus infernalis Baird. Texas Gerrhonotus.

Bailey records a specimen of this rather rare species from 6,000 feet in the
Chisos Mountains. We obtained one example in the foot-hills of the same
range.

Cnemidophorus tessellatus Baird and Girard. Whip-tail Lizard.
Recorded from Boquillas by Bailey. We collected a fine adult example
about five miles from Terlingua.

Cnemidophorus perplexus Baird and Girard. Seven-lined Lizard.

A number of these swifts were collected in the arid strip beyond Elephant
Mesa. A few were obtained near Paisano, at Blackburn’s Ranch and in Du
Bois Canyon.

Cnemidophorus gularis Baird and Girard. Western Lined Lizard.
Paisano, Du Bois Canyon, and Butcherknife. In life these specimens differ
from Central Texas examples by having the light lines buffy yellow instead of
green.
Eumeces brevilineatus Cope.
“Lloyd collected a single example at Paisano in a damp fernery at 5,300
feet.” (Bailey).

Eumeces tetragrammus Baird. Baird’s Skink.
One example from among rocks, on the road from Paisano to Blackburn’s.
Eumeces obsoletus Baird and Girard. Sonoran Skink.

I saw, but did not succeed in capturing, a large adult specimen of this skink
at Blackburn’s. It was stirred out from among rocks, only about a quarter of
a mile from the ranch-house. As a rule, I do not believe in including records
not based on actual specimens in hand, but this species is so conspicuous and so
unlike other Texan skinks when adult, that there can be very little possibility
of my being in error.

Diadophis regalis Baird and Girard. Regal Ring-necked Snake.
Bailey records one specimen from the Chisos Mountains at 5,000 feet.
Zamenis flagellum Shaw. Whip Snake.

Said to be abundant at Paisano and Blackburn’s but we saw only a single
specimen. Chisos Mountains (Bailey).

Pityophis caternifer sayi Cchlegel. Bull Snake.
Paisano (Bailey) and Alpine. Said to be common in dog towns.

Chionactis episcopus isozonus Cope.
Bailey records a single example from the Chisos Mountains at 6,000 feet.

Tropidonotus sipedon transversus Hallowell.
Tropidonotus rhombifer Hallowell.

These are probably the only snakes of the genus Tropidonotus that occur in
this portion of the Trans-Pecos Region. Water-snakes were frequently ob-
served in Calamity Creek but only one specimen of each of these two species
TEXAN HERPETOLOGY 15

 

was collected.

Thamnophis marcianus Baird and Girard. Marcy’s Garter Snake.
Boquillas (Bailey) Paisano and Alpine.

Thamnophis eques Reuss.
Prade collected a fine adult specimen of this handsome, spotted garter snake
at a small tank near Alpine.

Coluber emoryi Baird and Girard. Emory’s Pilot Snake.
I found a young example of this species under a fallen tree near Paisano
Pass.

Crotalus atrox Baird:and Girard. Texan Rattlesnake,
Boquillas (Bailey) and Terlingua.
Crotalus lepidus Kenn. Kennicott’s Rattlesnake.

Chisos Mountains and Paisano (Bailey).

We did not see a single rattlesnake at Paisano during the ten days we were
camped there but this is easily accounted for by the earliness of the season.
This species is sometimes called the green rattlesnake, supposedly on account
of the color of the light bands, but Bailey describes his specimens as being dark
rusty brown with a pinkish tinge. A specimen in the Baylor Museum from
the San Blas Mountains, Chihuahua, when fresh, had the light bands salmon
colored.

Chrysemys texana Baur. Texan Turtle.

Chrysemys with yellow head markings were frequently observed in Calamity
Creek, and the larger tanks. A half-grown specimen from Calamity is a
fairly typical example of the species described by Baur,

Kinosternon flavescens Agass. ; Yellow Mud Turtle.
This mud turtle is abundant in tanks near Alpine.

Terrapene ornata Agass. Painted Box Tortoise.
Flats near Alpine. Du Bois Canyon.

AMPHIBIA.

Rana pipiens Kalm. Leopard Frog.
Calamity Creek and tanks on Blackburn’s Ranch.

Acris gryllus crepitans Baird. Western Cricket Frog.
Same localities as Rana pipiens Kalm.

Bufo lentiginosus woodhousti Baird and Girard. Western Toad.
Alpine and Blackburn’s Ranch.

Bufo punctatus Baird and Girard. Spotted Toad.

My friend J. D. Mitchell, collected a number of juvenile examples of this
toad near Boquillas in the Big Bend of the Rio Grande.
Notes on the Texan Salamander
(Ambystoma texanum Matthes)

BY JOHN K. STRECKER, JR.

Five members of the widely distributed salamandrine genus Ambystoma,
have been recorded from Texas. ‘The habitat of one of these, the Salamandra
texana of Matthes (Ambystoma texanum Cope) is apparently confined within
the boundaries of the State. This salamander was first described in 1855 and
in the half century that has elapsed since then, less than twenty specimens have
been added to collections. Most of these are immature examples and have been
recorded from only two definite localities, i. e. San Antonio and Waco. Future
explorations will probably disclose the fact that the animal is not uncommon in
some portions of the central and southern sections of the State, in river low-
lands subject to overflow.

Ambystoma texanum is figured on plate 35 of the Report of the United
States and Mexican Boundary Survey (Senate Documents, Thirty-fourth
Congress, first and second sessions, 1855-56) with the locality given as “the
Lower Rio Grande.” Cope (Batrachia of North America) describes in detail
young examples obtained at San Antonio by Col. J. D. Graham (U. S. Na-
tional Museum Coll. No. 4044, eleven examples).

In the Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. for 1908 (page 80) the present writer gave
a description of a single example, (presumably a well grown adult) from
Waco. In May, 1908, Mr. Julius Hurter of St. Louis collected one example
at San Antonio. In the Spring of 1908, I had the pleasure of finding the
eggs of this species and of capturing a number of larval specimens and two ex-
amples of the mature form which had probably just completed the larval stage.

As nothing has been published regarding the life history of the species, I be-
lieve that my meagre notes will prove of interest.

CHARACTER OF THE SPECIES.

At first sight Ambystoma texanum shows many points of resemblance to the
nearly related 4. microstomum Cope but it only requires a very cursory ex-
amination to convince one that it is a very distinct species.

‘The proportions in the two species are much the same in some respects but
the colors in living specimens are conspicuously different. The light colored
underparts of zexanum and the light yellowish spots between the costal folds
readily distinguish it from the more uniformly colored, light speckled and
darker microstomum. ‘The light spots between the costal folds, like the yellow
blotches on the dorsal area of immature Texan examples of the Nebulous Toad
(Bufo valliceps Wieg.). are not always constant and usually disappear in the
preserving fluid. The two young examples collected by me differ from all of
the other Texan salamanders in the great contrast between the darker upper-
parts and the very light colored (almost white) underparts.

The following table will serve to illustrate the principal external differences
between ¢exanum and microstomum. (Based on examples of approximately
18 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN

 

the same sizes).

MATERIAL.
Ambystoma texanum. A. microstomum.
Three examples (one adult and Thirteen from Waco, Victoria and
two young) from Waco, Texas. Laguna, Texas; one from St. Louis,
Mo., and one from St. Clair County,
Illinois.
COLORATION.
Adults light to dark brown above, Blackish brown to black, under-
yellowish beneath. parts lighter but not forming a sharp
Young, brown (1) dull lead color contrast.
(1) above, underparts almost white Essentially the same as that of
with only a slight yellow tinge. adults; in most cases young examples

are unusually dark.

MARKINGS.

A few light (yellow) spots between Numerous lichen-like specks of
the costal grooves. A few on the gray or plumbeous on the back and
belly, in one specimen. especially on the sides. In young ex-

amples these spots are almost white.

PROPORTIONS, ETC.
Width of head contained from 4 Width of head contained from 6%

to 4% times in distance to groin. to 7 times in distance to groin.

Four intercostal spaces between fore Six intercostal spaces between fore
and hind limbs when appressed to and hind limbs when appressed to
sides. sides.

Jaws more deeply cleft. Mouth small.

Dorsal furrow distinct. Dorsal furrow slight.

Fourteen costal grooves, Fourteen costal grooves.

Habitat: My adult specimen of 4. texanum was collected at a point five
miles south of Waco, in a small bottom which is subject to overflows.

About a mile and a half from Waco, on the east side of the Brazos River
and lying along the line of the M., K. and T. Railroad, is a tract of land that
at one time had formed a marsh for at least eight months of each year. This
land is in a hollow basin and the water was supplied by backwater from the
Brazos during occasional floods, reinforced by heavy rains during spring and
early summer. Some years ago this marsh was thoroughly drained and a dirt
levee thrown up and for some time it seemed as though the experiment had
proven a perfect success. For four or five years extensive crops of cotton and
corn were grown on its site and only isolated small hollows and ditches were
water-filled during the spring rains.

In the spring of 1908, this section of Central Texas was the scene of dis-
TEXAN HERPETOLOGY 19

 

astrous floods which covered nearly the entire surface of East Waco with
water and for a period of ninety days the marsh district reminded one of the
days of “Auld Lang Syne.’ Nearly all of the water composing the newly-
formed marsh was backed up from the Brazos River and after the flood waters
had largely subsided, river turtles were left stranded in large numbers.

In former years a mud turtle (Cinosternum louisianae Baur) was the sole
Chelonian inhabitant of the old marsh but the new one was filled with numer-
ous examples of Chrysemys texana Baur. ‘These turtles were evidently dis-
satisfied with their quarters, on account of the muddiness of the water, and
early displayed a disposition to migrate. One morning I found eighteen dead
specimens that had been crushed by passing trains. I must confess that the
sight of these mangled specimens made me heartsick, as I had always considered
this Chrysemys an uncommon species with us.

Living examples of Cinosternum louwisianae and C. flavescens Agass were
captured in the ditches alongside the railroad track. The turtles of this
genus, however, show a preference for muddy water, and, unlike the Chrysemys,
had made themselves very much at home.

NOTES ON BREEDING HABITS AND LARVAE.

On the sth of April, while dipnetting for crayfish along the edges of the
marsh and the ditches running into it, I accidentally discovered some salaman-
der eggs attached to an overhanging weed cluster. These eggs resembled those
of the small-mouthed salamander (Ambystoma microstomum) but I was satis-
fied that they were not those of that species, which is an unusually early
breeder, good-sized larvae often being found as early as the first of February,
long before the earliest breeding Hylidae go into the water. The large weed
cluster to which the eggs were attached was one that had been growing along
the edge of the bank and had been stepped upon and broken and was lying
along the surface of the water for nearly half its length. The eggs were in
seven clusters containing 8, 7, 6, 6, 5, 4 and 4 eggs, respectively, and the
gelatin mass was already swollen from contact with the water. They averaged
about one-twelfth of an inch in diameter and contained very tiny but well
developed, blackish embryos. I judged that they had been deposited some
three or four days previously. Attached to some weed stalks about six feet
away was an enormous cluster of the eggs of the leopard frog, (Rana pipiens
Kalm.) nearly four inches in diameter.

On the 1st of May, several young larvae about 13 mm. in length, flabby,
tender and with filamentous gills were seined in a fine meshed net, near the
place where the eggs were discovered. These specimens were light olive in
color, but unlike the larvae of 4. microstomum,, were without blotches along
the back.

Later in the month (about the 20th I should say) I used my net in the
shallow pools alongside the railroad track and was rewarded by the capture of
nearly a dozen larval salamanders each about 45 mm. in total length. These
specimens were light olive above with a light dorsal and two light lateral
20 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY BULLETIN

 

stripes of a shining, brassy hue. The underparts were white and the branchiae
were blackish.

Compared withmicrostomum larvae of approximately the same size, these
specimens are slenderer, but with broader heads, and with jaws more deeply
cleft. The tails of several of them were badly mutilated by crayfish, ~

An hour or two later the two young salamanders were discovered on the
other side of the ditch where I had discovered the eggs the month before.
One was found under a small plank, one end of which was lying in the water,
The other was found in the entrance to a deserted crayfish hole. Both were
quite active and made strenuous efforts to escape. _
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SUMMER SESSION

. AND...

NORMAL SCHOOL FOR TEACHERS

T1909
: . a

A large number of Academy and College courses will be offered during the Summer Session.:
Credits towards all segrees awit be given for such collegiate work. Many students now irregular in
their courses of study may ‘‘even up’’. Many teachers who want to increase their academic rank er
collegiate efficiency can do so, and also get study and comradship in the Normal as set forth below.
II.

Last year Baylor had approximately 300 teachers present. This year we look for near soo.
The array of professional talent already secured surpasses any previous year. It is thought
that no school in the Southwest will offer superior advantages to teachers of high class who desire to
grow in professional strength. We have secured some of the finest men in the United States- aszin-
structors. Names will be given later when the whole list is complete and the details wrought out.in

a catalogue which, as soon as published, will be sent to all who file their names now for record.

Remember Baylor’s boarding Halls; library and laboratories will be open to allstudents. Cheap
board will be possible, especially for women on the co-operative plan.

For further information, write the President of the University, .

 

S. P. Brooks,
Waco, Texaa.

‘