REPTILES 221 



Co Scales in 25 rows L. calligaster. 



as Color pattern contains color rings encircling body. 



bi Ground color red; rings black L. dapsoides. 



b2 Ground color red; rings whitish L. pyrrhomelana. 



bs Ground color white; rings black L. muUicincta. 



L. getulus (L.). Chain-snake (Fig. 113). Length 1,500 mm.; tail 

 200 mm.; greatest length 1,800 mm.; color black, with usually narrow 

 yellow or white dorsal bands which may fork on the sides and join one 

 another, giving the effect of a chain; belly black, blotched with white 

 or yellow; scales in 21 to 25 rows; superior labials 7: entire country 

 south of latitude 40 ; common . 



Subspecies of L. getulus 



L. g. getulus (L.). Color bands narrow, forking on the sides; 

 scales in 2 1 rows : New Jersey to the Gulf. 



L. g. holbrooki Stejneger. Scales in 21 rows; a yellow spot on each 

 dorsal scale; no bands: Louisiana to Texas; northward to Illinois and 

 Wyoming. 



L. g. nigra (Yarrow). Scales in 21 rows; scales without light centers 

 or with very small ones: eastern Illinois to Ohio; southward into 

 Alabama. 



L. g.floridana Blanchard. Scales in 23 rows; cross bands more than 

 50, or not distinguishable : Florida, 



L. g. hoyli (Baird & Girard). Scales in 23 rows; color bands broad 

 and forming rings : western Arizona and Utah to California. 



L. g. calif ornicB (BlainvUle). Scales in 23 rows; a dorsal longitudinal 

 stripe either complete or interrupted : southern California. 



L. triangulum (Lacepede) {L. doliata L.). Length 860 mm.; tail 

 130 mm.; ground color gray or yellow, with a series of broad, black- 

 bordered red or brown bands or saddles occupying the dorsal and lateral 

 sides of the body; abdomen yellowish or red, with black spots alter- 

 nating irregularly with the bands; scales in 21 rows: eastern and central 

 States; westward into Texas, Kansas and Iowa; often common. 



Subspecies of L. triangulum 



L. t. syspila (Cope). Dorsal saddles 23 to 35 in number: Ohio and 

 Tennessee to Iowa and Oklahoma. 



L. t. triangulum Lac. Milk-snake. Ground color gray, bands 

 much broken and brown or reddish: northern States; southward into 

 North Carolina; westward into Iowa. 



