﻿ANCISTRODON 263 



is separated from the upper preocular by a loreal. 

 Two preoculars, one or two postoculars, and a sub- 

 ocular. Three large lower temporals, anterior largest. 

 Upper labials seven or eight, third and fourth 

 largest, third entering the eye. A pair of small 

 chin-shields. 



Scales sharply keeled, with two apical pits, in 

 twenty-three rows. Ventral shields 149 to 174 ; anal 

 entire; subcaudals 31 to 44 pairs. 



Coloration. — Pale yellowish-grey, greyish-brown, 

 or reddish, sometimes greenish in young specimens, 

 with transverse series of darker spots or with more or 

 less regular dark bars with serrated edges across the 

 back (Plate XIV.) ; these bars may be narrower than 

 the interspaces between them, or so large as to cause 

 the back to appear brown with light cross-bars ; the 

 bars sometimes broken up on the vertebral line, and 

 the two halves alternating. The sides usually paler 

 and bearing two alternating longitudinal series of 

 small spots, the lower of which are usually darker, 

 and sometimes extend on the outer ends of the 

 ventral shields. Head pale above, with a dark spot 

 on the middle of the snout, a cross-bar or a pair 

 of spots between the eyes, a spot or short band on 

 each side of the parietal region, and a horseshoe- 

 shaped band on the occiput, the branches of which are 

 more or less produced on the nape ; all these mark- 

 ings sometimes confluent. A broad, dark, light- 

 edged band on the temple. Lips whitish, speckled 



