Description—This snake is much like the larger canebrake rattler but lacks the dark stripe from the eye to the back of the mouth, and generally is without the reddish-brown stripe down the middle of its back. Dark brown chevron shaped crossbands contrast with the general body color of yellowish tan. In some specimens black stippling occurs between the markings. Both black and light color phases of this snake are found in some parts of its range. It is unknown whether the dark specimens occur in Texas. The tail is marked with three or four dark bands on the lighter specimens but is altogether black on the darker ones. Size—Throughout its range this snake has an average length of from three and a half to four feet, but a specimen six feet long is on record. Young—The number in a brood varies from three to 12. Length of the newborn is eight or nine inches. Distribution—The timber rattlesnake prefers rocky hills and mountains that are not too heavily wooded, but it sometimes inhabits bogs and swamps at lower elevations. In either situation, it seldom survives for long in areas heavily populated by man. In common with most other rattlesnakes, it seeks escape when approached by man and fights only when surprised or cornered. Known in northeastern Texas, it is reported from Cooke, Denton, Eastland, Grayson, Lamar, Red River, Taylor, and Wise Counties. Like the prairie rattler, it often seeks the same denning areas year after year and congregates in numbers to hibernate for the winter. [Illustration: Distribution map] CANEBRAKE RATTLESNAKE _Crotalus horridus atricaudatus_ [Illustration: CANEBRAKE RATTLESNAKE] Description—This is a large and heavily built snake with a brown or tan back marked by a series of wide, dark, chevron shaped crossbands. It may be distinguished from the similar timber rattlesnake by its larger size, its more vivid markings, and the presence of a dark stripe from the eye to the angle of its mouth. Generally, a narrow, reddish-brown stripe extends down the middle of the back. Its tail, as in some other rattlesnakes, is entirely black. Size—In Texas this snake reaches a length of about six feet, while in nearby Louisiana exceptionally large specimens, some nearly seven feet long, have been found. Length averages four and a half feet. Young—About eight or ten are born in a brood. Distribution—This species prefers wooded areas in wet bottomlands. It has been found in the following counties: Austin, Bexar, Bosque, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Cass, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, Eastland, Ellis, Falls, Fayette, Freestone, Gonzales, Grayson, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, McLennan, Navarro, Robertson, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Taylor, Victoria, Waller, Williamson, and Wise. [Illustration: Distribution map] BANDED ROCK RATTLESNAKE _Crotalus lepidus lepidus_