836 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 

 COLUBER GUTTATUS SELLATUS Cope. 



Coluber (/n I tatns sellalns Cope, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XI, 1888, p. 387, 



This subspecies does not differ in any structural character from the 

 typical G. guttatus (/tittatus, excepting that the scales are in twenty-nine 

 longitudinal rows. The value of this point is uncertain, as but three 

 specimens are known. The essential differences are seen in the color. 

 The headbands so conspicuous in the C. (j. guttatus are wanting here, 

 except the postocular, which is present, and is black-banded above 

 and below. The parietal band is indicated by a black external border, 

 which extends to the edge of the parietal plate. It is further faintly 

 indicated by a shade, which joins that of the opposite side, on the front 

 of the frontal scutum. A second character is seen in the absence of 

 lateral spots on the body, their places being clear pink or yellowish, like 



Fig-. 190. 



COLCBER GUTTATUS SELLATUS COPE. 



= 1. 



PaJatka, Florida. 



Cat. No. 6607, U.S.N.M. 



the ground of the belly. The spaces between the dorsal spots and 

 those between the lateral clear spaces are gray dusted. The scales at 

 the sui^erior edge of the lateral pale spots are sometimes black-bordered, 

 partially outlining a lateral spot. This is most distinct anteriorly, where 

 these borders form interrupted longitudinal lines. The dorsal spots are 

 red and have narrow serrate black anterior and posterior borders. The 

 spots are wider than in the C. g. giittatus, covering nineteen and twenty- 

 one longitudinal rows of scales, while in the former they cover but from 

 ten to fifteen rows of scales. The belly is tesselated with black spots, 

 as in C. g. guttatus, each spot covering the external half of two or three 

 gastrosteges. A delicate black line connects them externally, running 

 along the angle of the gastrosteges. 



Cat. Nos. 



9692. 

 6507. 



