105. With well defined, light cross bands only 106. 

 With light-spotted scales forming cross bands which may fork and unite 



on the sides in a chain-like fashion, or form a diffuse, spotted pattern 

 along each side 107. 



106. Light-colored scales with brown shading at their bases; white bars on 



prefrontals straight edged behind; Ariz, and Cal. 



Lampropelus getulus yumensis Blanchard Yuma King Snake 

 Light-colored scales without brown shading at their bases; white bars on 

 prefrontals curved outwards behind; Oregon to Ariz, and Cal. 



Lampropelus getulus hoyUi (B. & G.) Boyle's King Snake 



107. With 23 to 25 rows of scales around the body; belly mostly dark; with 



a vivid light spot in the center of each scale on the sides between the 

 cross bands; in states bordering Mexico 



Lampropelus getulus splendida (B. fir' G.) Splendid King Snake 

 With 2 1 rows of scales around the body; belly yellow, with dark blotches; 

 sides obscurely or not spotted, except on the cross bands; Ind. to Ala. 



Lampropelus getulus niger (Yarrow) Frosted King Snake 



108. Coloring with red, black and pale cross bands, with the black or pale 



bands extending well on to the ventral plates, usually forming rings 

 around the body (See note at end of chapter.) 109. 



Back with reddish or brownish, black-bordered blotches on a pale back' 

 ground; black and pale bands not continuously extending much on to 

 the ventral plates 114. 



109. With reddish rings around the body about four times the width of the 



spaces between, which are black, with a very faint, central ring of 

 yellow; Texas 



Lampropeltis triangulum annulata (Kennicott) Mexican King 



Snake 

 {Osceola dohata annulatum (Kennicott) ) 

 {Ophiholus micropholis (Cope) (part) ) 

 Reddish rings shorter; pale rings almost as wide as, or wider than, the 

 dark ones 110. 



110. With a pale band across the top of the back of the head, extending down 



on the sides directly before the angle of the jaws 111. 



With a pale band across the neck, extending down on the sides directly 



behind or just involving the angle of the jaws 112. 



111. Snout Vv^hite; Nev. to N. M. 



Lampropelus pyromelana (Cope) Arizona Ringed King Snake 

 (Ophiholus zonatus (Blainville) ) 

 Snout black; Wash, to Cal. 



Lampropeltis multicincta (Yarrow) California Ringed King 



Snake 

 (Ophiholus zonatus (Blainville) ) 



112. Greatest number of rows of scales around the body 19; loreal absent or 



almost so; southeastern states 



407 



