Hanken, James 1974 Crotalus viridis Hastings Natural History Reservation, Carmel Valley, Monterey Co California 26 April 4:15 PM. A rattler was found coiled in the grass of Pearson Field, 250' up the slope from Big Creek, at right angles, relative to the creek, from Long Field Marker #18. The snake did not rattle its tail, nor move in any other noticeable way when being encountered, and I had gotten within two feet of it, and probably would have stepped on it, had I not seen it in my path. The snake superficially resembled a large melanic garter snake (keeled lateral scales + broad head) and I had started to almost instinctively reached down to pick it up before I realized that it was a rattlesnake. The coloration at first seemed almost a solid dark gray - only when I prodded it with a stick and it stretched out did I see the faint light outline surrounding the dorsal blotches. It was ~ 2 ft. in total length. As already said, it remained essentially motionless when first encountered, and remained that way for another minute or two while I went to look for a stick. Once prodded it entered a small rodent burrow which it had been lying next to, rattling its tail while doing so. The weather today has been overcast and cold for most of the day until about an hour ago when the sun broke through in spots and the temp. warmed slightly.