SNAKES OF THE GENUS PITUOPHIS 47 



present intergradation is not known to occur between the two forms, 

 intermediates would undoubtedly be found in a much larger series of 

 specimens representing the entire ranges of the two forms. Thus 

 jani may be considered most properly as a subspecies of deppei, 

 derived from d. deppei. 



The probable affinities of this form with the adjacent forms have 

 been expressed in the diagram on page 42. 



Table 3 lists the specimens of this form examined. 



PITUOPmS LINEATICOLLIS (Cope) 



Arizona lineaticollis Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1861, p. 300 (no 



type known; type locality, Mexico). 

 Spilotes lineaticollis Cope, U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 32, p. 72, 1887. 

 Epiglottophis lineaticollis Cope, Amer. Nat., vol. 25, p. 156, 1891; Amer. Nat., 



vol. 30, p. 1023, 1896; Rep. U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1898, p. 861, 1900. 

 Coluber lineaticollis Boulengek, Catalogue of snakes in the British Museum, vol. 



2, p. 64, 1894. 

 Pituophis lineaticollis Gunther, Biologia Cen trail- Americana, Reptilia, p. 124, 



pi. 47, 1894. — Stull, Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, No. 250, p. 2, 



1932. 



Original description. — Cope (1861, p. 300) gives the following 

 description of this form: 



Head distinct, elongate. Rostral plate rounded in profile, much elevated, the 

 posterior angle right, not reaching postfrontals. The latter three times the size 

 of the prefrontals. Vertical longer than broad, the anterior border straight, 

 as long as the occipitals. Five or six small temporals on each side. Nasal plates 

 large, loreal longer than high. Preoculars one or two, postoculars three. Superior 

 labials eight or nine, liable to irregular subdivision; fourth and fifth, or fourth 

 fifth, and sixth entering the orbit. Twelve inferior labials, postgeneials very 

 small. Scales small, in 27 rows, the median 10 keeled. Tail very short. 



General color of a specimen long preserved in spirits; above light brown, 

 beneath paler. The head is without markings. On the anterior part of the body 

 two black bands, two and two halves rows of scales apart, extend for four times 

 the length of the head, and terminate each in a narrow elliptical annulus. The 

 latter are nearly confluent with the succeeding pair of annuli, which are very 

 narrow. These increase in breadth posteriorly until near the middle of the body 

 they become confluent on the median line forming geminate open spots; near the 

 tail they lose the geminate form. Their whole number is 36 pairs, separate or 

 united. Alternating with these is a small series of annuli which become elongate 

 anteriorly and finally become short black hnes, parallel to, and three scales from, 

 the median pair. A few spots on the extremities of the gastrosteges on the 

 posterior part of the abdomen. Total length 30 in.; tail 3.9 in. 



Habitat. Mexico. Mus. Acad. Nat. Sciences. 



Diagnosis. — With its range extending to Guatemala, lineaticollis is 

 the southernmost form of the genus as well as the most distinct. It 

 may be separated readily from its nearest neighbors, deppei deppei and 

 d. jani, by the higher number of ventrals (236 to 249 as opposed to 

 211 to 235 in deppi and jani) and by the markings. In lineaticollis 



