64 



THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



nasals; the nostril lateral and between the nasals. Loreal present. Body 

 medium slender and varying but little in diameter throughout. Tail short and 

 tipped with a spine. 



Dorsal scale rows 19-21-19 or 19-21-19-17 and less often 21-19; the formula 

 19-17 is exhibited in a single specimen from Scioto County. Scales smooth. 

 Upper labials 7; lower labials 9, rarely 8. One preocular and 2 postoculars. 

 Temporals 2, rarely 1, in the first row; and 3, rarely 2, in the second row. 

 Ventrals in males 202 to 210, average 205.7; in females 198 to 212, average 

 202.3. Subcaudals in males 46 to 54, average 49.7; in females 41 to 49, aver- 

 age 44.7. Anal plate single. 



Ground color above, olivaceous black to black. Dorsal surface from tip 

 of snout to tip of tail crossed by 71 to 95 rows of very small yellowish dots 

 which fork and refork on the sides to impart an indistinct chain-like pattern. 

 Throat, chin and labials yellowish; labial plates blackish along the sutures. 

 Belly yellowish, heavily marked with squarish or irregular blackish blotches. 



Specimens examined, 21; specimens preserved, 21; specimens studied, 20. 



Map 14. Ohio locality records and general 

 range of the Black King Snake, LampTo- 

 peltis gelulus nigra. 



