CROCODILIANS, LIZAKDB, AND SNAKES. 



909 



OPHIBOLUS MULTISTRATUS Kennicott. 



Ophibolus mitltktratus Coi>E, Check-list N. Amer. Batr. Kept., 1875, p. 37. 

 Lampropeltia multistrata Kennicott, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 18B0, p. 328. 



Dorsal scales in tweuty-three rows. Form similar to that of (hrt'ohi 

 gentilis, but the head and eye larger. Color above browuish red, with 

 thirty-one pairs of narrow black half rings inclosing white spaces from 

 head to anus, the black rings not extending across the abdomen, 

 which is uniform yellowish white. Head black above. 



Snout broader and more depressed than in Osceola genfilifi. It is also 

 more elongate, and hence, also, the loreal and nasal plates; in the only 

 specimen examined, the second superior labial plate is replaced by two 

 smaller ones, thus increasing the number to eight, a peculiarity probably 

 abnormal, as all the other species of 

 the genus have seven. The body 

 above is brownish red in spirits, 

 crossed by thirty-one pairs of black 

 rings from head to anus. The in- 

 closed white spaces are one and a half 

 scales wide on the central fifteen dor- 

 sal rows, and begin to widen abruptly 

 an the fourth lateral row on each side, 

 extending over three or four scales 

 longitudinally on the first row. On 

 the sides they are punctulated with 

 black, as in Osceola (jentiUs. The oc- 

 cipital white ring is much broader. 



The black rings are each two scales wide on the vertebral region, narrow- 

 ing to loss than one scale laterally. On the fourth lateral row the two 

 rings of each pair begin to diverge, the anterior uniting on the edge of the 

 abdomen with the posterior ring of the pair in advance, the posterior 

 becoming confluent with the anterior of the succeeding pair. Thus the 

 ground color is inclosed in the form of a transverse elliptical spot. Upon 

 the middle of the body these spots are two or three scales wide on the 

 vertebral region, four or five on the sides, and but one on the first row 

 of scales. Anteriorly the red intervals are greater; posteriorly they 

 narrow slightly, but toward the tip of the tail they are entirely lost, as 

 in Osceola doliata and goititis, by the confluence of the black rings. 

 The black rings extend but a short distance upon the abdominal scuta, 

 leaving the abdomen destitute of blotches, though it is faintly and 

 sparsely punctulated. The chin and inferior labials are tinged with 

 brown. The top of the head is black, as in Osceola gentilis. 



Cat. Xos. IT 



1842 



16108 



Fig. 225. 



OPHIBOLUS jrULTISTEATUS KENNICOTT. 

 X1.3. 



Fort Niobrara, Nebraska. 



(••It. No. 1610S, U.S.N. M. 



