168 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



a short, broad, irregularly wedge-shaped frontal between 

 two supraoculars, and a pair of large parietals. Anterior 

 and posterior nasals distinct. A small loreal present, 

 but sometimes united with prefrontal. Two postoculars 

 and one (or rarely two) preocular. Temporals normally 

 two followed by three, sometimes 1-2, 1-3, or 2-4. Seven 

 (rarely six) superior and nine inferior labials, fifth and 

 sixth superior and fifth (or fourth) inferior largest, third 

 and fourth superior reaching eye, first pair of inferior 

 meeting on median line. Geneials in two pair, anterior 

 larger than posterior. Scales on body smooth, thin, 

 imbricate, in twenty-one or twenty-three rows. Anal 

 plate never divided. Gastrosteges varying in number 

 from one hundred and ninety-nine to two hundred and 

 fifteen. Urosteges in two series of from forty-five to 

 sixty-one. Tail short but slender. 



The snout may be black, white, or spotted. The mid- 

 dle third of the head is black. A white band crosses 

 the back of the head, involving 

 the tips of the parietal plates and 

 joining the white of the throat. 

 Behind this white one is a full or 

 half ring of black, followed in 

 turn by another of red. The 

 whole body is similarly marked, 

 being encircled by from twenty-five to forty-three white 

 rings* between which are rings of black more or less 

 divided and replaced by blotches or rings of red or pink. 

 The proportion of black to red varies greatly in different 

 specimens, as does also the intensity of the red. This 

 color is sometimes present anteriorly only, and is usually 

 absent near the tip of the tail. The colors of the back 



* Not counting the five to eleven on the tail. 



