62() NORTH AMERICAN SNxiKES COPE 



Pmmmophis flaijeUifonnis Holbiook, N. Aiuer. Herpt., 2d ed. iii, 1842, p. 11, PL 2, 



Masticojjliis flafjdUformis Bd. and Gird., Cat. Serp. N. Amer., 1853, p. 98; Jan. Icon. 

 Gen. Olid., ii, 20, vi, Fig. 1. 



Herpetodrijas flafjdUformis Dnm. and Bibr. Erp, Gen. vii, 1854, p. 210; Gunther, Cat. 

 Col. Snakes Brit. Mus., 1858, p. 118. 



Coluher fesiaceus Say, Long's Exped. Rocky Mts., 182.3, p. 48; Holbr. N. Amer. Herpet., 

 Ill, 1842, p. Go ; Harlan, Journ., Acad. Phila., v, 1827, p. 348. 



Masticophis tcstaceiis Bd. and Gird., Baird, U. S. Mex. Bound. Siirv., ii, Pt. ii, Rep- 

 tiles, p. 20, PI. XVI. 



Bascanium ftageUi/orme icstaceum Cope, Check List N. Amer., Batr. Rcpt., 1875, p. 40. 



Masticophis flagelliformis var. testaceus Jan, Icon. Gen. Ofid. ii, 20, vi, Fig. 2. 



Herpeiodrijas psammopliis Scbleg. Ess. Pliysion. Serpens., ii, 18;57, p. 195. 



rsammophis flavigidarts Hallow., Proc. Acad. Phila., 1852, p. 178. 



Masticophis flavigularis Bd. and Gird., Cat. Serp. N. Amer., 1853, ji. 99. 



Eerpetodryasflavidnlaris Giiuther, Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mas., 1858, p. 118; Hallow., 

 Rept. U. S. Pac. R. R. Surv., x. 1859, Williamson's Rept. p. 12. 



The color varieties of this species are as follows : In half-grown east- 

 ern specimens the head is light brown, with darker cross shades oii the 

 head and nape. lu adult eastern specimens the head and from one- 

 fourth to two thirds the length of the body are deep brown. In Texas 

 adult specimens the anterior regions are sometimes of a strong brown 

 color, but generallj^ they are pale, the top of the head only being of a 

 light brown. In adults from the Sonorau and Pacific regions the pos- 

 terior ])art of the head and several wide cross bands on the nape are 

 of a dark brown or even of a blackish color. In specimens from Ari- 

 zona these are followed by pink cross bands, which appear only on the 

 anterior fourth or fifth of the body. In Californian specimens in the 

 National Museum these pink cross bands indistinctly appear. In spec- 

 imens from La Paz, at the southern extremity of Lower California, the 

 entire body is a citron yellow, with some black appearing between the 

 scales when the skin is stretched. The head and nape are spotted as 

 in the Californian individuals. In young specimens from Georgia and 

 Florida, as well as from the West, the chin, throat, and anterior i)art 

 of the belly for a short distance are spotted by ill-defined spots of light 

 brown. These are represented by cloudy shades, or are entirely lost 

 in the prevailing brown color in eastern adult specimens. In Texas 

 specimens they disappear entirely in some large adults. In Sonoran 

 and Californian specimens they continue permanently, the spots form- 

 ing a row on each side of the inferior and superior labials, and the 

 speckled brown of the temporal region is divided by a pale line extend- 

 ing from the eye posteriorly. 



This si)ecies ranges from South Carolina into Mexico on tlie plateau, 

 ,aud southward on the western slope. Thuslihaye recprded ,it from 

 Chihuahua, Guanajuato, and Guadalaxara. 



Bascanium semilineatum Cope. 



This is a remarkable form, as it occupies a position between several 

 of the species. Thus it has the scale formula and shape of head of 

 B.Jfagclliformc, the head coloring of B. svhottii, and part of the colora- 



