612 NORTH AMERICAN SXAKKS COPE. 



Ground color black, marked above and below with yellow or white 

 spots and bands, the latter generally transverse, rarely longitudinal. 

 Labial plates light-colored, with dark borders. Top of head black, 

 with larger or smaller white or yellow spots. 



This species ranges the entire nearctic realm as far north as about 

 latitude 41°. It is not found in the neotropical realm, unless the Lower 

 Californian district be embraced in it. 



The variability of this species is in some respects considerable, while 

 in others it is quite constant. A number of distinct species have been 

 proposed on its forms, most of which I felt compelled to reduce to this 

 one as subspecies at the time of writing my check list in 1875. further 

 reduction is made now. The number of rows of scales is not constant. 

 In the subspecies 0. (j. getulus, they may be twenty-one or twenty-three; 

 and in the 0. (j. hoylii they may number twenty-three or twenty-live. 

 The characters based on color indicate natural geographical subspecies, 

 but the transitions from one to the other are not lacking. The sub 

 species are defined as follows : 



1. Scales in 21 (3) rows. 



Scales with yellow centers, sometimes collected into cross bands on the back ; bead 

 yellow spotted above O. r/. saiji. 



Narrow white dorsal cross bands bifurcatiug on the flanks to embrace alternatiug 

 black areas; head, white spotted above 0. g. getulus. 



Uniform Idack above; below, with white spots; head spots few (^- g- niger. 



2. Scales in 2:? (;'>) rows. 



Scales of the sides with yellow or white centers; median dorsal region black, 

 with cross-bands of scales with yellow centers; top of head, except muzzle, 

 black 0. g. spJendidus. 



Black, with complete white annul!, which arc wider on the sides than on the back ; 

 top of head black ; of muzzle, white 0. g. hotjlii. 



Black, with more or less uumerons longitudinal stripes above and on the 

 sides, parts of auuuli present or absent; top of head, black ; top of muzzle, 

 white 0. g. raliforiiia;. 



The geographical distribution of these subspecies is well defined. 

 Thus the (). </. myi belongs to the Austroriparian region west of the 

 Allegheny Mountains, and of the central region north to latitude 42°. 

 The 0. (J. (jctukis occupies the Austroriparian and Eastern regions north 

 to about latitude 42°. The 0. g. splendidus is the type of the Sonoran 

 district, and the 0. y. hoylii of the Pacific. The 0. g. californuv ])rob- 

 •«,bly comes from the Lower Californian, but our specimens come from 

 the southern part of the Pacific regiou. 



This is the largest species of the genus, and is beautiful in all its 

 forms. It is thoroughly harndess to mankind, and can be handled to 

 niiy extent without showing fear or anger. 



Ophibolus getulus sayi IIull)rook. 



Cope, (;heck List Balr. Rept. N. Anier., IS/.'), p. 37. 



Coronella sayi Ilolhr., N. Amer. Herpet., iii, 1842, p. 'JD, PI. xxn ; Duin. Bibr. Erp, 



Gen. VII, 1854, p. 6H); Giinther, Cat. Colubr. Snakes Brit. Mus., 18.58, p. 41. 

 Colnhvr KOj/i Dekay, N. Y. Fanna Rept.. 184:^, p. 41. 



