﻿i8o COLUBRID^ 



parietals. Loreal longer than deep, sometimes divided 

 into two. One preocular (sometimes divided into 

 two) , in contact with the frontal ; two postoculars ; a 

 series of three or four suboculars, usually completely 

 separating the eye from the labials. Temporals 

 2 + 3 or 3 + 3. Eight or nine (rarely ten) upper 

 labials, fifth or sixth very rarely entering the eye. 

 Four lower labials in contact with the anterior chin- 

 shields, which are shorter than the posterior. 



Scales with two apical pits, in twenty-five to 

 twenty-nine rows, usually twenty-seven. Ventral 

 shields very distinctly angulate laterally, 222 to 258 ; 

 anal divided (rarely entire) ; subcaudals yy to 107. 



Coloration. — Brown, pale olive, reddish, yellow, or 

 orange above, with a dorsal series of large dark brown, 

 black-edged rhomboidal spots, often bordered with 

 yellow, on each side of which is a series of smaller, 

 alternating spots (Plate V.) ; these spots may become 

 entirely black in the adult, and so large as to reduce 

 the ground colour to a mere network or series of 

 X-shaped pale lines. A dark cross-band between 

 the eyes, and a y^- or horseshoe-shaped band on 

 the back of the head, which may be confluent with 

 an elongate spot on the nape; a light circle often 

 present in the middle between the parietal shields- 

 The spots often more or less confluent into three 

 longitudinal streaks on the tail. Yellow, orange, or 

 red beneath, with or without black dots, but con- 

 stantly with a lateral series of black spots, which 



