1054 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



loriiiula of the latter. In color pattern it differs from all the subspe- 

 cies of either, and, as its tail is generally longer than either, it is nec- 

 essfiry to admit it as a sei)arate species. It is more than usually 

 compressed at the anal region, where the scales are wide and more 

 irregular than is observed in other species. In the form vidua this 

 compression extends to the entire body. There are two well-marked 

 subspecies, as follows: 



Color blackish, with traces of an inferior row of spots and a distinct lateral stripe; 



belly yellowish olive, with black ceatt-r; throat and lips yellow K. i. Infernalis. 



Uniform l)lack, with yellow dorsal stripe only E. i. vidua. 



The geographical range of this species includes middle and southern 

 California only, so far as yet known. 



EUTiENIA INFERNALIS INFERNALIS Blainville. 



Eiitainia infernalis Eaird and Girakd, Cat. N. Anna-. Re]>t., Pt. 1, Serpents, 1.S53, 



p. 26. 

 Cohihcr infernalis Blainville, Nonv. Ann. Mns. Hist. Nat., Paris, H', 1835, p. 59, 



pi. XXVI, fig. 3. 



Head moderately distinct, muzzle medium. Parietal plates not short- 

 ened, narrowed posteriorly. Scales not narrowed, graduating in width 



from the first row, which 

 is smooth. Gastrosteges 

 one hundred and fifty- 

 eight, urosteges seventy, 

 anal one. 



Color above blackish 

 brown, with a mediau 

 yellow stripe which cov- 

 ers the middle and i)arts 

 of adjacent rows to the 

 base of the tail, where it 

 contracts to one row and 

 continues to the end. 

 Belly from yellow to 

 olivaceous, extending to the third'row of scales inclusive, with or with- 

 out a shade on the first row distinguishing a lateral stripe, immaculate. 

 Scales from fourth to eighth rows, inclusive, with the keels olivaceous 

 or yellowish, forming delicate longitudinal lines. Shades of the same 

 color are so distributed on the scales as to give the appearance of indis- 

 tinct spots in two rows, an appearance which is increased by a few 

 scattered yellowish dots on the margins of some of the scales. This 

 appearance represents actual spots in young si)ecinH'ns. In some ot 

 the large specimens this appearance is lost, nothing but the few yellpw 

 specks remaining. Labial plates yellow or olive, with or without very 

 narrow posterior black borders. Throat and chin always yellow. 



This subspecies resembles the Eutccnia elcgans llneolata, but it has 

 always (sixteen specimens) one row of scales less on each side. The 



Fig. 294. 



EUT.KNIA INFERNALIS INFERNALIS IjLAINVILLE. 



= 1. 

 fat. No. 16B54, U.S.N.M. 



