870 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



intermediate in clniraeter between the typical P. s. sayi and the P. cate- 

 nifcr. These forms differ as follows: 



Rostral plate compressed and. produced upward aud backward; olteu traces of a 

 black subtaudal stripe f. s. sayi. 



Rostral plate less compressed aud less uairowed above ; no traces of the black sub- 

 caudal stripe P.s. bellonn. 



PITYOPHIS SAYI SAYI Schlegel. 



Pityophis sayi sayi Cope, Check-list N. Amer. Batr. Rept., 1875, p. 39. 

 Fityophis sayi Baikd and Girakd, Cat. N. Am. Kept., Pt. 1, Serpents, 1853, p. 151. 

 ntyophis mexicanus Dumeril and Bibuon, Erp. Gen., VII, 1854, p. 236. 

 Cohther sayi Schlegel, Ess. Physionomie des Serpents, 1837, p. 157. 

 ntyophis 7naccleUanii Baird and Girard, Cat. N. Amer. Rept., Pt. 1, Serp., 1853, 



" p. 68. 

 Pityophis mexicanus Dumeril and Bibrox, Erp. G6n., VII, 1854, p. 236. 



Head subelliptical, elevated. Rostral plate prominent, very narrow. 

 Anteorbitals, none or two; postorbitals, three or four. Dorsals, 27-33 



Fig. 204. 



Pityophis sayi sayi Schlegel. 



= 1. 



Fort Custer, Montana. 



Cat. No. 14632, U.S.N.M. 



rows; the six outer rows smooth. Tail forming one-ninth or one-tenth 

 of total length. Postocular vitta brown and ratber broad. Suborbital 

 black patch conspicuous; commissure of labials black. Color of body 

 reddish-yellow^, with a series of forty-five to sixty-live blotches from 

 head to origin of tail. Blotches of adjoining series, on either side, con- 

 fluent across the light spaces between medial blotches. Flanks covered 

 with small blotches, forming three or four indistinct series. Twelve 



