1080 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1S98. 



EUTi^NIA SIRTALIS TETRAT^ENIA Cope. 



Eutania sirtaUs letratwtiia Yarrow, Re]»ort Rejitilfs U. S. Geog. Surv. W. of 100th 

 Mer., V, 1875, p. 546. 



Leiij^th of tail entering the total length four and one-fifth times. The 

 superior labials eight, the anterior rather crowded, so that it may be 

 the normal number is seven instead of eight, in which case this form 

 should be referred to the ?J, .^irtaUs rather than to the IJ, infernal is 

 The loreal is as high as long, and the temporals are 1-2-3. The frontal 

 wider than the superciliaries, and does not reach the preocular. The 

 ])ostgcneials are longer than the pregeneials. Gastrosteges, one hun- 

 dred and fifty-eight; urosteges, sixty eight. 



Mcttsurements. — Total length, 800 mm. ; length of tail (tip lost), 118 mm. 

 The ground color is seen in the dorsal stripe and in the belly as high as 



the third row of scales, inclu- 

 sive. This is bluish olivaceous. 

 The scales mentioned are black 

 at their bases and on their ad- 

 jacent edges, and in the first 

 row of scales the black covers 

 the angular extremity of the 

 gastrosteges. No regular spots 

 on the gastrosteges, as in most 

 subspecies of 1/. sirfalis. There 

 is no distinct lateral strii)e. 

 The dorsal stripe covers one 

 and two half rows of scales. 

 Externally on each side it is 

 bounded by a black stripe, 

 which also covers one and two 

 half rows of scales, and which 

 extends to the base of the tail. Exterior to this on each side is a red 

 stripe, which also covers one and two half rows of scales. Exterior to 

 this on each side is a second black stripe on each side, which covers one 

 and a half rows of scales, and extends to the base of the tail, beyond 

 which it is broken up into a series of black spots. It is also broken up 

 into spots for a short distance posterior to the head. These spots have 

 no connection with the superior black baud. Head olive gray, with two 

 pale parietal spots; no nuchal spots. Superior labials with narrow 

 black posterior borders on the fourth, fifth, and sixth. Throat and chin 

 yellowish, unspotted; no black marks on middle of belly and tail below. 

 The color pattern of this subspecies is entirely difi"erent from that of 

 any other, and is the result of a confluence of the sjjots, one phase of 

 whicli is seen in the E. sirtalis concinna. As in that form, the inferior 

 row of spots has become a longitudinal band ; but, unlike that form, the 

 red spaces between the superior row of spots has also become a stripe, 

 instead of remaining separate. 



Fig. 305. 

 Kl'T^^MA SIRTALIS tetrat.i-:nia Cor'K. 



= 1. 



Pitt Kiver, Califonii.T. 



Cat. No. HM, b'.S.N.M. 



