76 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Jan., 



The Mexican forms of Ophlbolns with rings are closely related 

 to this section. Mr. Boulenger has indeed united all of them with 

 annidatus, under the name of 0. micropholis Cope, and Dr. Gun- 

 ther" has done the same, using the name annulatus. 



The one specimen of micropholis, from Nicaragua, which I 

 have seen, is certainly very like gentilis, and if the southern forms 

 are to be united, as stated above, gentilis will probably have to be 

 added, and that name will have priority. 



Hab. — As here restricted, gentilis ranges from Nebraska to 

 western Louisiana, Texas and northern Mexico. 



Ophibolus getulus I- 



Coluber getulus L., Syst. Nat., Ed. XII, 382 (1766). 



Size large and stout; head not very distinct ; scales in 21-23 

 rows (occ. 25); oculars 1-2; upper labials 7: temporals 2-2 (3); 

 anterior chin shields longest: tail rather more than one-seventh of 

 the length; color black or brownish black; white or yellow mark- 

 ings on separate scales, which frequently collect into lines across 

 the back. 



Hab.— The whole United States south of latitude 40°. 



Key to the Subspecies. 



a. — Scales in 21 or 23 rows: 



Scales with yellow centres, often forming cross-bands, 



l._ 0. g. sayi. 

 Black with white or yellow cross-bands, bifurcating on sides, 



2. 0. g. getulus. 

 h. — Scales in 23 or 25 rows: 



Black with white rings which widen on the sides, 



3. 0. g. boylii. 

 Black with many rings broken; short white stripes, 



4. 0. g. calijornice, 



Ophibolus getulus sayi Holbrook. 



Coronella sai/i Holb., No. Am. Herp., Ill, 99, PI. XXII (1842); Op/u- 

 bolus splendidus and 0. sayi B. and G., 83, 84 ; 0. g. sayi and 0. g. 

 splcndidus Cope, I. c, (il2, 613, and Rep. Nat. Mus., 911 and 918 ; 

 Coronella getula, (part) Boul., I. c, II, 197. 



Dorsal rows of scales 21-23 (rarely 25); ventrals 200-224; 

 subcaudals 40-60; length about 1,500 mm. 



This form is exceedingly variable in pattern, but after examina- 

 tion of many specimens from all parts of its range, both living 



^^ Bio. Cent. Amer. Kept., p. 109, PI. 23. 



