654 



NORTH AMERICAN SNAKES COPE. 



Eutaenia elegans ordinoides Bd. and Gird. 

 Eut(Fiiia ordinoides Bd. and Gird., Cat. Serpt. N. Ainer., 1853, j>. 33, Tropidonotns ordi- 

 noides, Bd. and Gird., Proc. Acad. Phila., 1852, 176. 



This form is quite different from any of those enumerated as sub- 

 species of JE. elegans, but it resembles considerably the JE. sirtalis 

 parietalis. The distribution of colors is quite the same as in that form, 

 but the red between the lateral spots is of a chestnut color, and not 

 crimson, as in U. s. parietalis. The agreement of the scale and labial 

 formukTe with those of the E. elegans induces me to refer it to that species 

 rather than to the U. sirtaUs, although the latter exhibits occasionally 

 in California eight upper labials. 



Besides the characters mentioned, this form has a yellow dorsal 

 stripe, which is well defined, covering one and two halves rows of scales. 

 The lateral stripe is defined below by a brown shade, which fades into 

 the brownish olive of the belly below. The spots of the inferior lateral 

 row are large and are confluent above with the wide black dorso-lateral 

 band. No nuchal spots, but the dark color of the back continues into 

 the brown of the top of the head. Superior labials brownish olive, 

 the posterior narrowly brown-bordered ; chin and throat yellow. Gas- 

 trosteges unspotted; one hundred and fifty-six in number. Tail in- 

 jured; the base with a triangular section. Length of body, 490 milli- 

 meters. 



One specimen from San Francisco, California. Baird and Girard 



enumerate three specimens, all from California, and two of them from 



San Francisco. 



Eutaenia elegans brunnea Cope. 



Color of the superior surface to the third row of scales (exclusive), 

 brown; of lower surfaces, light yellow, extending to the third row of 

 scales (inclusive). Dorsal stripe light yellow, occupying the median 

 row of scales and the adjacent borders of the adjacent rows, but not 

 well defined laterally, and not black bordered. It covers three full 

 rows on the nape and only one row beyond the middle of the length, 

 and is wanting on the tail. No traces of nuchal spots. Labials colored 

 like the abdomen, the superior with traces of brown i^osterior borders. 

 There is but a faint brown shade on the first row of scales and the ends 

 of tiie gastrosteges, scarcely defining the lateral stripe below. Belly 

 unspotted. In the type No. 10849 the head is short, wide. Temporals 

 1-2-3 and 1-3-3. Gastrosteges 172, anal 1, urosteges 77. Geneials 

 equal, short. Tail entering total length four and one- tenth times. 



This is a much more robust form than the E. c. elegans. and brown 

 takes the place of black in the coloration. In the indefinite dorsal 

 stripe it resembles the E. e. U7ieolata, but it does not show the least 

 trace of the square spots even when the epidermis is removed. 



