CROCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES, 



1065 



Head distinct oval: iimzzle and orbit medium. Ilody moderately 

 robust; tail between one-fourth and one-fifth the total lenijth, very 

 rarely shorter than one-fifth or larger than one-fourth. Superior labial 

 plates eight, all higher than loug, except the first and second. Loreal 

 not longer than Iiigh; oculars 1-3; temporals 1-2-3. Frontal much 

 wider than superciliaries; parietals rather short. Scales in nine- 

 teen rows, not very narrow, not emarginate except the inferior three 

 rows; the first as deep as long and feebly k-eeled. Postgeneials longer 

 than pregeneials, generally separated to the base by small scales. 



Color varying from light green through olivaceous to black, traversed 

 by three longitudinal stripes, of which the laterals are not well defined 

 below, and all three may be wanting. Spaces between them uniform, 

 or marked by two rows of alternating black or brown spots, of which 

 those of the superior row may or may not be confiuent with each other. 

 In most of the forms there is a round black spot on the anterior jjart of 

 each gastrostege about 5 mm. from the end. Belly generally light 

 bluish green, but varying to darker and black. 



This species ranges over all North America, being limited to the 

 north by its capacity for enduring cold and extending south to Guate- 

 mala. In its essential characters it is quite constant, but it varies in 

 color so as to include several races or subspecies. Of one hundred and 

 two specimens examined but three have twenty-one rows of scales, the 

 rest having nineteen. Of the same number examined but six have 

 eight superior labials on both sides, and the additional labial is gener- 

 ally smaller than the others so as to be an evident abnormality, though 

 sometimes it is regular. In nine specimens the additional labial appears 

 on one side only. These abnormalities are distributed as follows : 



Subspooies. 



E. s. dorsalis . . 

 E. n. sirtalis ... 

 E. s. parictalis. 

 E. g. jdckeriiujii 



T.)tal . . . . 



Jfumbpr 



exam- , , 



of scales 



, „ Superior Superior 



l'"^-' 'abials labials 



The subspecies differ as follows: 



I. No stripes nor spots above. 



Color green; a 8i)ot near end of eaeli giistrosteiie K. v. f/rainima. 



II. No stripes; two rows of square spots on each side. 



Spots all distinct, not separated by red interspaces; gastrosteg.il spots 



/'-'. H. tintiiittlii 



III. Both stripes and spots. 



Spots all distinct, not separated by red interspaces; gastrostegal spots; dorsal 



stripe yellowish, not black bordered; spots from 75 to 80 A'. ••*. sirtalis. 



Spots distinct, not separated by red interspaces; the anterior become opposite 



and confluent, and extending across the lateral stripe forming half crossbars; 



gjistrostegal spots K. s. seynifasciala 



Infeiior row of spots only visible, sep.irated by red intersj)aces; dorsal stripe 



red, black bordered; gaslrostcgal sjiofs; lateral spois from 70 to 83 



E. 8. dorsal is 



