42 BULLETIN 17 5, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



The probable relationships of deppei and the adjacent forms may 

 be expressed by the following diagram: 



affinis 



deppei 

 \ 



\ 

 jani 



lineaticollis 

 Table 2 lists the specimens of this form examined. 



PITUOPHIS DEPPEI JANI (Cope) 



Arizona jani Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1860, p. 369 (type, 

 U.S.N. M. No. 1522; type locality, Buena Vista, Mexico). 



Pituophis deppei jani Stull, Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, No. 250, 

 p. 2, 1932. 



Pituophis deppei GtJNTHER, Biologia Centrali- Americana, Reptilia, p. 124, 1894 

 (part) . 



Original description. — The following description of this form is given 

 by Cope (1860a, p. 369): 



Head not very distinct, tapering. Rostral plate rounded, presenting an obtuse 

 angle between the prefrontals. Postfrontals bent upon the sides of the head. 

 Vertical longer than broad, the lateral borders much converging, posterior angles 

 obtuse. Occipitals longer than vertical, subdivided as in Pityophis sp. Nostril 

 between the nasals; loreal plate longer than high. One preocular not reaching the 

 vertical, three postoculars. Superior labials eight, fourth and fifth entering the 

 orbit, inferior labials twelve, sixth largest. Postgeneials shorter than pregeneials. 

 Scales of the body in 27 or 29 rows, the central thirteen keeled. Tail short. 



Coloration. — Above a pale yellowish brown, browner on the crown and muzzle. 

 A series of quadrate dorsal spots extends throughout the whole length, involving 

 from 13 to 17 medial rows. Anteriorly they are separated by spaces eight scales 

 wide, but these intervals diminish posteriorly. There is a lateral series of spots 

 which alternate with those of the dorsal row, and are sometimes confluent with 

 others, which form a series along the tips of the gastrosteges posteriorly. Anteriorly 

 the dorsal intervals are divided by a transverse series of three small spots, which 

 are probably sometimes confluent. These markings are all black anteriorlj'; 

 posteriorly they are shaded with brown. Belly dirty 3'eUowish. The length and 

 number of gastrosteges of our specimen cannot be given, owing to its mutilated 

 condition. Urosteges 58, the tail terminating in a rather long corneous appendage. 



Habitat. — Buena Vista, Mexico, Lieut. Couch. Mus. Smithsonisin. 



Systematic notes. — This form was described by Cope as Arizona jani 

 (1860a, p. 369) but has never since been recognized. The type specimen 

 (U.S.N.M. No. 1522), although lackmg the central part of the body, 

 has enough of the anterior part of the trunk present to show an inter- 

 space of 9 scales in length, which places it beyond doubt with specimens 

 from Miquihuana. These latter specimens, while agreeing with 

 deppei in all other characters, are quite distinct in the number of spots 



