52 SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS, 



in number. FLanks with ft)ur scries of small spots, alternating, more or 

 less irregular faded and broken ; the lower series on the edge of the abdo- 

 men. Posteriorly the lateral sjjots unite into a short vertical band, and 

 upon the tail this unites with the dorsal spot, forming a transverse band. 

 Head-shields sjiotted with brown. A band across the posterior extremity 

 of the prefrontals through the eye, across the cheek above the angle of 

 the mouth, a vertical wedge-shaped bar below the eye, and the margins 

 of the labials black. On old specimens these bands are often obsolete, 

 as is also the case to some extent with spots of the back and flank. The 

 scales generally have a darker line along the middle. A specimen from 

 Florida has three series of alternating quadrate brown spots on the belly, 

 back nearly uniform brown posteriorly, clouded and spotted anteriorly, 

 and the dorsal spots rather indistinct. 



PITYOPHIS CATENIFER. 



Loreal one, sometimes two. Preocular one, often two, lower small. 

 Postoculars two to five, commonly three. Rows of scales 31 to 33. 

 Ventrals 222 to 243. Subcaudals 58 to 72 pairs. 



Spots 90 to 98 (19 to 23 on the tail). The band across the head through 

 the eyes is distinct to obsolete. The A^ertical bar under the eye is usually 

 distinct. Dorsal and upper lateral series of spots more or less confluent 

 so as to form a chain on the back ; in cases where the spots are separate 

 the effect is much the same. The colors vary much in intensity ; the spots 

 are sometimes black, and occasionally quite indistinct. The ground color 

 varies from white to reddish brown. Ventrals 230 — 247, Subcaudals 

 60 — 71. Oregon to Lower Califoi*nia, 



var. SAYi. 



Closely resembling P. melnnohucus. Spots rather more numerous, 

 though not so many as in P. bellona. Sometimes two loreals. Preocu- 

 lars 1 (1—2). Postoculars 3 (2 — 4). Scales in 27 — 29 rows. Ventrals 

 220—240. Subcaudals 52—55 pairs. 



Belly more or less blotched in the middle. Mississippi Valley to Rocky 

 Mountains, and southward to Mexico. 



vnr. MEXIC'ANUS. 



Prefrontals two pairs, sometimes soldered into a single ]v\\r. Preoc- 

 ulars two, lower small. Postoculars four. Labials nine, fifth in the 



