634 NORTH AMERICAN SNAKES — COPE. 



smaller specimens, the smallest measuring- 325 millimeters, and the 

 largest 380 millimeters. The dorsal region is marked with brown spots 

 on a light ground, and there is a series of smaller spots alternating 

 with them on each side, with a trace of a second series of spots alter- 

 nating with the last, on the ends of the gastrosteges. The dorsal spots 

 bave concave anterior and posterior borders, so that the angles of one 

 spot approximate those of the adjacent ones. There are forty-two spots 

 between the nape and vent. The angles of the nuchal spot are pro- 

 duced so as to form short bands, the anterior reaching to near the parie- 

 tal scuta. There is a narrow brown postocular band, and a narrow one 

 across the front on the posterior pai't of the prefrontal plates. The 

 lateral spots of the body are elongate in front, the first forming a longi- 

 tudinal line on the side of the neck. The gastrosteges are spotted at 

 the ends, and the middle portions are clouded in some of the specimens. 



In this stage these specimens are closely similar to the G. spiloides, 

 except tiiat the spots in the latter species are less numerous, ranging 

 from thirty to thirty-five on the body. They can not be distinguished 

 by the increased number of keeled rows of scales, as the keels are less 

 evident in the young than in the adult. 



The second set of specimens measured from 460 to 580 millimeters, 

 and embraces Nos. 1364G, 13G57, 13681, 13703. Here the lateral 

 angles of the dorsal spots are connected by a faint longitudinal stripe, 

 thus forming the superior pair of stripes of the adult; and the lateral 

 spots show a trace of a similar connection on the anterior part of the 

 body. The marks on the head are present as in the smaller specimens, 

 or they are broken into spots, or are nearly absent. The clouded marks 

 of the belly are present or absent. 



The third set varies from 580 to 020, and includes Nos. 13656, 13670, 

 13686, 13G91. Here the lateral stripe is fairly distinct, and the head 

 and belly are immaculate. Traces of the dorsal and lateral spots nniy 

 be distinctly seen. 



Associated with these specimens from the same locality is a young 

 C. guttatns of 550 millimeters length. It displays all the characters of 

 the adult, and does not vary in the direction of the G. spiloides, as do 

 the young of the jiresent species. 



Coluber spiloides Dmii. Bibr. 



Erp. Gdn^ral VII, 1854, p. 269 ; Giintli., Cat. Colubr. Snakes, Brit. Mns., 1858, 901. 

 Coluber ohsolctus confinis Cope, Check List Batr. Rept. N. Ainer., 1875, p. 39. 

 Coliiher ohsolctus spiloides Cope, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mns., 1888, p. 387. 



Austroriparian region and Texas. 



Coluber obsoletiis Say. 



In Long's Expedition Rocky Mts., i, 1823, p. 140; Harlan, Jouni. Acad. Phila., V, 



1827, p. 347; Cope, Check List Batr. Rept. N. Ainer., 187."), p. 39. 

 Scof(>j)his DhsuhtiiH K<Miiii(!ot.t, Proc. Acad. Pliila., iHCiO, p. 330. 

 Elaphis obsuhttia (Jiiivnniu, Mem. Mii-s. Coiiip. Zool. Caiubr., viii, 1883, p. 151. 



