1901.] XATURAL SCIEXCES OF PIIILADF^LPIIIA. 53 



gionally six; preucular 1, with occasionally a small additional one 

 below; three post-oculars ; temporals 3-4 (5); upper labials 8 or 

 9 ; scales in 27-35 rows, from three to twelve outer rows smooth ; 

 the dorsal spots are quite small and range from 40-70 in number 

 on the body; three series of more or less defined spots on the sides; 

 the head is transversely banded between the orbits, from the orbit 

 vertically downward on the labials, and obliquely from the post- 

 oculars to the angle of the mouth; ventrals 205-243; subcaudals 

 50-72. 



The three subspecies may usually be distinguished by the shape 

 of the rostral : 



Rostral low and broad, 1. P. c. catenifer. 



Rostral higher, 2. P. c, hellona. 



Rostral highest, 3. P. e. sayi. 



Pityophis catenifer catenifer Blainville. 



Coluber catenifer BL, I. c, 290; Pltuophis catenifer, P. Wilkesii and 

 P. annectens B. and G., I. c, 69, 71, 72 ; P. catenifer Cope, I. c, €41, 

 and Eep. Nat. Mns., 876 ; Coluber catenifer (part) Boul., I. c, II, 

 67; P. catenifer Van Den., I. c, 195. 



In this Pacific coast form the rostral is lowest of all and reaches, 

 without penetrating, the internasals; upper labials 8 or 9; tem- 

 porals 2 (3)-4; scales in 29-35 rows, none strongly keeled and 

 from four to eleven smooth. Usually there are not more than 

 five smooth rows, but a large specimen from Fort Tejon, Cal. 

 (No. 3,800, Academy coll.), has eleven smooth on each side. 

 Very little reliance can be placed, however, on the number of 

 smooth rows in any gf the species of PUijophis, as they not infre- 

 quently vary in different parts of the same individual. Ventrals 

 205-230; subcaudals 50-70. 



Ground color yellowish or brownish ; there are usually 50-70 

 dorsal spots on the body, but sometimes these are as few as 36, 

 from 15-21 on the tail; anteriorly the spots are black, becoming 

 brownish toward the tail; belly yellowish, with a series of dark 

 spots on the ends of the ventrals and sometimes another ill-defined 

 series on the middle; the head bands are distinct. Length 1,900 

 mm. (tail 315). 



Hab. — Pacific coast west of the Sierra Nevada. 



