Hendrickson 1950 Crataealus mitchelli Sept. 7 Stubby Spring, 4500 ft., Riverside Co., Calif. At about 4:00 P.M., after warm, sunny afternoon, found large (3'-2) male stretched in a straight line across the sand of the canyon bottom about 25 yds. below the large tank. I approached slowly and could detect no disturbance of the snake. It was absolutely motionless -- not even the tongue flicked. Even during this apparently completely relaxed basking, however, the tail was elevated slightly. [Sketch] Upon closer approach (than about 10 ft.), it proved very active in seeking cover. Upon being rapped out from under a scrub oak onto the sand it showed considerable fight and was difficult to secure in hand. The temperature was 26.6°C. The temp. 6" above the sand was 23.5°C. (at that time in partial shadow of a small cumulus cloud.