209. Chin plates white, with this color often extending on to the throat; back 



dark, with dark blotches in young; belly dark gray; usually with 

 seven upper labials; eastern -and central states to the Mississippi 

 Coluber constrictor constrictor (Linn.) Black Snake, Black 



Racer 

 (Zamenis constrictor (part) of Cope) 

 (Bascanion constructor (Linn.) ) 

 Chin plates not white; back hluish'gray, brownish or greenish, with or 

 without blotches; belly yellowish or bluish; with seven or eight upper 

 labials 210. 



210. Usually with seven upper labials; color above bluish, with or without 



blotches; central and southwestern states (A white-spotted variety, 

 subspecies anthicus (Cope), is found in northwestern La.) 



Coluber constrictor flaviventris (Say) Blue or Yellow'bellied 

 Racer 

 Usually with eight upper labials; color above brownish or greenish; with 

 or without blotches; West Coast to Utah 



Coluber constrictor mormon (B. 6? G.) Green or Western Yel' 

 low-bellied Racer 



211. With 15 rows of scales anteriorly 212. 

 With 17 rows of scales anteriorly 215. 



212. Plates of head with pale borders; body striped on sides 213. 

 Plates of head without pale borders; body striped on sides or not so 214. 



213. Stripes on sides broken up by light patches, or with light cross bands on 



the neck; Texas 



Coluber taeniatus girardi S. & B. Texas Coach-whip Snake, 



Ornate Racer 

 (Masticophis ornatus of B. & G.) 

 Stripes of sides complete; no light cross bands on neck; Wash, to Texas 

 and Cal. 



Coluber taeniatus taematus (Hallowell) Striped Racer or 

 Striped Whip Snake 



214. With one or no light stripe along each side; Texas 



Coluber taeniatus ruthvem (Ortenburger) Ruthven's Racer 

 With two light stripes along each side; Texas 



Coluber taeniatus schotu (B. 6? G.) Texas Green Racer 



215. With one or more stripes lengthwise along each side 216. 

 No stripes along sides; back plain or with dark cross bands or blotches 



217. 



216. With several dark stripes along each side; Ariz,, and N. M. 



Coluber semilineatus (Cope) Arizona Whip Snake 

 With a single pale stripe along each side; Cal. 



Coluber lateralis (Hallowell) California Striped Racer 



217. Back and tail completely very dark colored; belly pinkish, with dark 



blotches anteriorly; Ariz, and S. Cal. 



Coluber fiagellum piceus (Cope) Black Whip Snake 

 Back and tail not completely dark; back uniformly colored or with 



419 



