Houken, James 1974 Crotalus viridis Hastings Natural History Reservation, Carmel Valley, Monterey Co, Calif 26 April Because of this I believe that the snake had come out of the burrow to which it later retreated only a short while before I arrived, and was in the process of thermoregulating in the sunlight, trying to get its body temp. up. This would explain its apparent lethargy during the encounter. 7 May Two individuals were found in separate instances during my study of the E Haystack Hill area today. In both cases the snakes were found in the shade (underneath) of the low-hanging (1-2' off the ground) limbs of fallen dead oak trees in the savanna region. Both cases were in the mid-afternoon when the sun was high in the sky and temperatures warm (see data sheets of this day for details) and the snakes were apparently, seeking shelter from the high temperatures. The snakes were actually never seen due to the high grass at these locations, but the rattle was distinctive. In both cases the snakes didn't rattle until I was standing on the limbs above them. Several rodent burrows were seen associated with these fallen trees, both below the trees and in the immediate vicinity - presumably the area provides the snakes with not only shade from the sun but food (rodents) as well.