176 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



These intervals are brick red, 

 orange, yellow, or white, and usu- 

 ally are continuous with the white 

 or yellow of the lower surfaces. 

 The lateral scales which fall within 

 the dark blotches often have light 

 centers, while those in the light 

 intervals are similarly spotted 

 with black or brown. Small black 

 or brown blotches are sometimes present on the sides 

 midway between the larger ones. The lower surfaces 

 are yellow or white, unicolor or marbled with black or 

 brown. 



Length to auus 275 310 490 496 520 800 



Length of tail 43 51 70 73 83 140 



Distribution. — It is probable that this snake occurs 

 throughout southern California. It has been taken at 

 San Diego, San Diego County, and White River, Tulare 

 County. It ranges east across Arizona. 



Habits. — Unknown. 



Genus 30. TANTILLA. 



Tantnia, B. & G., Cat. N. A. Kept., I, Serp., 1853, p. 131 (type 

 coronata); Homalocranion, Dumeril, Mem. Ac. Sci. Paris, 

 XXIII, 1853, p. 490. 



The body is very slender, with tail of moderate length 

 and no constriction at neck. The snout protrudes a 

 little beyond the lower jaw. The head is very low, and 

 very flat above. Its plates are normal, except that there 

 is no loreal. One preocular and one or two postoculars 

 are present. The scales are smooth, arranged in fifteen 

 (or thirteen) rows. The anal plate is divided, and the 

 urosteges are in two series. The eye is small, with 

 round pupil 



