640 12. BOIDE 
Description —Top of head very slightly rounded, cov- 
ered with plates which often differ greatly in size, shape and 
number in different individuals. Rostral plate very large. 
Between it and broad frontal are two or three pairs of plates: 
anterior nasal, internasal and prefrontal. Labial and pre- 
frontal plates sometimes entering orbital ring. A single loreal 
usually present, but sometimes two or none. Supralabials 
eight to 11, often nine, the anterior ones usually very high, 
but, like all the headplates, subject to much variation. 
Infralabials nine to 13, usually 11. Scales on body smooth, 
imbricate, about as wide as long, and arranged in from 41 
to 49 longitudinal rows; lowest row on each side formed of 
larger scales. Gastrosteges narrow, varying in number from 
192 to 218. Urosteges varying in number from 27 to 40, 
usually all single, but sometimes a few divided. Anal spurs 
small but distinct. Tail very short and nearly as blunt as 
head. 
All the upper and lateral surfaces are grayish, yellowish 
or greenish brown, without dark or light markings. The 
chin and throat are sometimes clouded with gray or brown. 
The rest of the lower surface is yellowish white. 
Four young, from Placer County, are dull buff both above 
and below. 
Length to anus..-.---.. 193 238 356 408 482 Se) 
Length of tail... 26 31 47 58 58 (fe) 
Remarks.——In one specimen from Red Point, Placer 
County, and one from Fyffe, El Dorado County, California, 
the scales are in 41 rows. Other specimens from these local- 
ities have 43 rows. All other specimens from California, 
Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, of which I have records 
have more than 41 rows of scales. Thus of 47 specimens 
from these states 15 have 43 rows, 20 have 45, six have 47, 
and six have 49 rows. 
