28. COLUBER 667 
united. Postoculars two, upper a little larger, very rarely 
united. Temporals normally two followed by two, but 
rarely 2+1, 1+2, 2+3, or 1+1. Eight or nine (rarely 
seven or 10, superior and 10 or 11, or rarely eight or nine, 
inferior labials, seventh or eighth upper and fifth lower 
largest, fourth and fifth or fifth and sixth superior reaching 
eye, first pair of inferior meeting on median line. Genials in 
two pairs, posterior pair a little larger. Scales on body smooth, 
in 17 rows. Anal plate almost always divided, rarely entire. 
Gastrosteges varying in number from 188 to 213. Uros- 
teges in two series of from 99 to 128. Third, fourth and 
fifth urosteges of one specimen not divided. 
The general color is whitish, grayish, ochraceous, brown- 
ish, straw yellow, or black, usually lightest at the edges of 
the scales, often spotted with brown or black at their tips 
or bases. Across the nape are several (3 to 7) brownish or 
blackish bands, often more or less blended. Faint indica- 
tions of longitudinal lines may sometimes be seen along the 
sides. The lower surfaces are pale yellow or white more or 
less spotted anteriorly with black, gray, brown, or yellow. 
These spots usually form one row along each side of the 
anterior gastrosteges. 
Young are more or less distinctly cross-barred above 
with gray, brown or black, and show a light line or blotch 
along the side of the face. The latter mark is often re- 
tained by adults. 
Ruthven describes the color of a specimen from Tucson, 
Arizona, as follows: 
“Above, except for a short distance anteriorly, the color 
is yellowish brown, relieved by small, mostly concealed bars 
of whitish that margin each scale on either side of the base. 
On the anterior half of the body, the base of nearly every 
scale is black, although the light lines are still present, occa- 
sionally being of a pinkish tint. On the neck the light marks 
