1901.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF nilLADELPHIA. 23 



Eutaenia elegans elegans B. and G. 



E. elegans B. and G., I. c, 34 ; E. e. elegans, E. e. plutonia and E. e. 

 brunnca Cope, I. c, 653, 654, and Eep. Nat. Miis., 1035, 1037; T. 

 vagrans (part) and T. ordinatus var. infcrnalis (part) Boul., I. c, 

 I, 202, 207 ; Thamnophis elegans (part) Van Den., Occ. Papers Cal. 

 Ac. of Sc, No. 5, 207 (1897); Thamnoi^his elegans Stej., No. Am. 

 Fauna, No. 7, 211. 



Color usually dark brown, olive or black, obscuring the spots; 

 dorsal stripe moderately wide and distinct, whitish, yellow or red; 

 laterals usually, but not always, distinct; there are no nuchal spots 

 and^the labials are without dark margins; belly generally light, with 

 a distinct yellowish tinge on the throat; eye moderate; posterior 

 chin shields about equal the anterior; A^entrals 155-172; sub- 

 caudals 57-80. 



E. jilutonia YaiTOw was based upon two melanistic individuals, 

 one from Arizona and the other from Washington. 



I can see no valid reason for retaining E. brunnea Cope. 



Hab. — California to Oregon. 



Eutaenia elegans vagrans B. and G. 



E. vagrans B. and G., I. c, 35 ; E. e. lineolata and E. e. vagrans Cope, 

 I. c, 655, 656, and Rep. Nat. Mus., 1038, 1039 ; T. vagrans (part) 

 Boul., I. c, I, 202 ; Tlianinophis vagrans Stej., I. c, 213 ; T. vagrans 

 (part) Van Den., I. c, 210. 



E. vagrans has almost always 21 rows and 8 upper labials; ven- 

 trals 153-172; subcaudals 53-91; the eye is smaller than in 

 elegans and the posterior chin shields either equal the anterior in 

 length or are rather less. Color, greenish yellow or ashy to 

 brown ; the spots are rather small and numerous, they are usually 

 distinct and often tend to join together, forming zigzag cross- 

 bands ; they usually encroach upon the stripes, which are whitish 

 or yellow; the belly is frequently marbled with slate color, espe- 

 cially in the centre; head brown or blackish with parietal spot 

 and nuchal blotches generally present; labials rarely dark bordered 

 and then but narrowly. 



Hab. — The region of the plains and the Pacific coast from 



southern California to Oregon. 



Eutaenia elegans biscutata Cope. 



E. biscutata Cope, Proc. Acad. Phila., 1883, 21 ; I. c, 651, and Eep. 

 Nat. Mus., 1032; T. vagrans (part) Boul., I. c., I, 202; Thamno- 

 pJiis vagrans biscutata Van Deu., I. c., 212. 



This form was established by Prof. Cope upon a melanistic speci- 

 men of small size, with two preoculars and 21-22 rows of scales. 



