CROCODILTANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 

 Osceola doliata (jentlUs Jiairdand (Urard. 



895 



OSCEOLA DOLIATA ANNULATA Kennicott. 



Ophibolus doliatus miniilatitfi Cove, Check-list N. Aiuer. Batr. Rept., 1875, p. 36; 



Proc. U. S. Nat. Mas., 1888, p. 382. 

 LampropelHs annulaia Kennicott, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1860, p. 329. 



Form stout, head broad, eye small. Scales broad. Color bright red 

 with eighteen to twenty-two pairs of black rings from head to anus, 

 each jjair inclosing an immaculate yellow ring which completely encir- 

 cles the body, widening but little upon the flanks. Abdomen between 

 the yellow rings black. Top of head entirely black, tbis color extend- 

 ing posteriorly upon the occipitals in an acute angle. A broad occipi- 

 tal yellow ring. 



General appearance similar to 0. d. gentilis. The form is stouter, 

 the head shorter, broader, and more depressed, and the eye smaller. 

 The dorsal scales are different, being much broader; the lateral rows 



Fig. 219. 



Osceola doliata anndlata Kennicott. 



= 1. 



in O. d. annnlata are higher than long, aud those of the central are 

 nearly as wide as long. In 0. d. (/entilis^ those of tbe lateral rows are 

 considerably longer than high, and those of the central nearly twice 

 as long as wide. There are twenty pairs of black rings from head to 

 vent, which do not diverge on the sides, each ring covering two to two 

 and a half scales longitudinally on the vertebral region and narrowing 

 but little laterally. The inclosed yellow rings are one and a half scales 

 wide on the vertebral region. The first three pairs of black rings 

 behind the head are, with those inclosed, a little wider. The intervals 

 of red ground-color occnpy four or five scales on the middle of the body, 

 and one or two more anteriorly and posteriorly. The yellow rings are 

 of nearly uniform width, and completely surround the body. The 

 spaces between them on the abdomen are bhick. There are no black 

 spots upon the body. 



Cat. No. 1857; upper labials, 7; ga.strosteges, 199-4-1; urosteges, 53; scales, 21; 

 total length, 339 mm. ; tail, 52 mm. 



