MAR 9 1944 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ZOOLOGICAL SERIES OF FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Volume 29 CHICAGO, FEBRUARY 23, 1944 No. 5 AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF THE BIG BEND REGION OF TEXAS BY KARL P. SCHMIDT CHIEF CURATOR, DEPARTMENT OP ZOOLOGY AND TARLETON F. SMITH The project for a national park in the Big Bend region of Texas has focused attention on the fauna of this region during recent years. The junior author was employed as student technician by the National Park Service during the summer of 1936 and again in 1937 to collect and study the amphibians and reptiles. He drew the senior author into consultation on various problems of identification at the suggestion of a mutual friend, Mr. Walter A. Weber, also of the National Park Service. The senior author visited the Chisos Moun-tains in April, 1937, in company with Mr. Leon L. Walters of Field Museum and Dr. Alfred E. Emerson of the University of Chicago, and returned to the Big Bend region in July and August, accom-panied by Mr. D. D wight Davis of the Field Museum staff. Mr. Walter L. Necker of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, accompanied by Mr. F. E. Winter, joined this party and paid especial attention to photographing the reptiles and their characteristic habitats. The senior author's sons, John and Robert, and Mr. Bertil Hartelius accompanied the 1937 party and again visited the Chisos in 1938, adding valuable specimens to the collections. We are indebted to Mr. R. D. Morgan, superintendent of the State Park, for the hospitality of the park during our stay. Dr. A. E. Borell, then Wildlife Technician of the National Park Service, collected a number of specimens of reptiles while engaged in a survey of the mammals of the Big Bend area, and certain other specimens No. 550 75
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