Hurler — Herpetology of Missouri. 185 



70. Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki Stejneger. 5 King 

 Snake. Salt and Pepper Snake. 



Lampropeltis sayi, Ophibolus getulus sayi, Ophibolus sayi, Coronclla 

 sayi, Coronella getulus var. sayi, Coluber sayi, Ophibolus getulus. 



Description. — Rostral triangular, little visible from above. Internasal 

 quadrate, smaller than prefrontals, which are large and wider than 

 long. Frontal a little longer than wide. Superciliaries shorter than 

 the frontal. Parietals longer than frontal, truncate behind. Nasals 

 two. Loral one, small. One pre- and two post-oculars. Temporals 

 2-3. Upper labials seven, third and fourth entering the eye, fifth and 

 sixth the largest. Lower labials nine, fourth and fifth the largest, four 

 in contact with the anterior chin shields, which are twice as long as 

 the posterior. Scales smooth, in 21 rows. Ventrals 200 to 220. Anal 

 entire. Subcaudals 40 to 60 pairs. 



Color. — Above dark brown to bluish black, each scale with a yellow 

 or white spot. On the sides these spots cover more than half the 

 scales. In young specimens the spots form narrow cross bands over 

 the back. These bands persist often in the adult. Beneath yellowish 

 white, checkered with bluish black, which markings follow the scales 

 and are more numerous on the posterior part of the body. Each plate 

 of the head has one or more spots of yellow. The rostral is yellowish 

 with black borders on top. Lower labials yellow bordered with black. 



Size. — The largest specimen I ever found in Missouri was 1270 mm. 

 long. 



Habitat. — Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, South- 

 ern Indiana, south to Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. 

 Missouri localities : — St. Louis, Jefferson, Oregon, Howell, 

 Stone, Phelps, Crawford, Montgomery, and St. Charles 

 Counties. In Illinois, St. Clair County. 



Habits. — The King Snake is not found often in Mis- 

 souri. It inhabits hilly places with sunny glades, occur- 

 ring under rocks and fallen trees. Its food consists of 

 mice, small birds, lizards and snakes. If a King Snake 

 meets a small Rattle snake or Copper-head it starts a 

 quarrel and coils itself around its victim's body. Biting 

 will be of no avail as the King Snake is immune to snake 

 poison, but only enrages the agressor. The victim is 



8 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 25: 152. 1903. 



