The King Snakes 



typical form, the trend of variation witii tiic succeeding forms 

 is quite in the opposite direction — that is, the red areas are in- 

 clined to widen and their black borders to extend around the 

 Body as rings, producing much the same efTect as the pattern 

 of the venomous coral snakes (Elaps), hence these reptiles are 

 among those serpents that "mimic" the poisonous colubrine 

 snakes. 



The status of the present variety is somewhat doubtful, it 

 is the Western representative of the ancestral form, and extends 

 well within the Western range of the latter. Some specimens 

 are symmetrically ringed with the black; others have large black 

 blotches on the abdomen beneath the red areas. It is possible 

 that these differences should be recognised under distinct, varietal 

 names, yet the confusing, intergrading forms cause one to hesitate 

 before adopting such a course. Technical workers have much 

 to do in solving this problem, one way or the other. 



The Mexican Ringed King Snakes, recognised specifically 

 under the technical head of annulatus or micropholis, are very 

 closely allied to the present variety. An elaborate series of spec- 

 imens might prove the array of forms extending through Mexico 

 and Central America, to be simply a chain of varieties connect- 

 ing with the North American forms. 



Colouration. — Red bands above, more broadly bordered 

 with black than existing with the other varieties of doliatus al- 

 ready described, the black usually encircling the body as pairs 

 of rings; between these rings is a narrow area of yellow. 



On many specimens, the space on the abdomen directly 

 beneath the red is entirely suffused with black, the red extending 

 downward to the abdominal plates. Both from above and from 

 the side, such a specimen presents a ringed appearance. Above, 

 the larger areas are rich scarlet. 



On occasional specimens the black rings fuse into a smoky 

 band along the back. 



The entire top of the head is usually black with the excep- 

 tion of the snout, which is red. 



As this is a very variable form, numerous specimens may be 

 found that will greatly confuse the student in separating it from 

 doliains. The tendency of the black to form rings about the 

 body; the extension of the red to the abdominal plates and the 

 consequent absence of a black-bordered, saddle-like pattern are 



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