The King Snakes 



defined, while the red is more pronounced on the posterior part 

 of the body. There are nineteen red and black bands on the body, 

 and an equal number of the intermediate black ones. On the 

 tail there are 5 bands, which form quite distinct rings, on the last 

 two of which the red is absent. The head, including the labials, 

 is dark gray with small dark mottlings, not well defined, and a 

 narrow black streak from the postoculars to the angle of the 

 mouth. Ventral surface grayish white, heavily blotched with 

 black, into which the black portion of the cross-bands run." 



Dimensions. Total length of the type specimen. . 28J inches. 

 Length of tail 4^ 



Distribution. As yet, taken only in the Davis Mountains, 

 Jeff Davis County, Texas. 



ARIZONA RINGED SNAKE; RINGED KING SNAKE; 



"CORAL SNAKE" 

 Opbibolus lonaius, (Blainville) 



Despite the vivid colouration of the King Snakes, this is the 

 most beautiful species of the genus. It presents all the striking 

 colours of the Scarlet King Snake 0. doliatus coccineus of the 

 southeastern United States, but is a much larger reptile and at- 

 tains the length of a yard. The proportions are moderately stout 

 and the head is fairly distinct from the neck. This snake appears 

 to be most closely allied to the Western varieties of the succeeding 

 species. There are 21 or 23 rows of scales. 



Colouration. The body is encircled with pale brick-red, 

 white, and black rings. On the forward portion of the body, the 

 black rings (which enclose the narrow rings of white) are narrow 

 and the red rings are broad; toward the latter portion of the body, 

 the red becomes constricted and the black predominates. On 

 some specimens the latter character is so pronounced that the 

 pattern may be given as white rings separated by broad rings of 

 black which are split by narrow areas of red, or contain triangles 

 of that hue. Such are the greater number of specimens from 

 Arizona and Utah. California specimens are usually perfectly 

 ringed with the red for the entire length of the body and are the 

 handsomest phase of this species. 



The snout is black. Across the head is a white band, broad- 

 ening on the temples. Behind this is a black ring. 



Dimensions. Following are the measurements of an adult 

 specimen from southern California: 



