668 13. COLUBRID 
tend to break up the ground color into cross bands, but only 
five or six of these are distinct, the anterior four being near- 
ly solid black. On either side of the belly there is a series 
of blotches similar in color to the dorsal surface, except 
anteriorly where they are black. Between this series of gas- 
trostegeal spots and the first row of scales, which also has 
the color of the dorsal surface, is a white line that includes 
the tips of the gastrosteges and the lower edge of the first 
row of dorsal scales. Similarly the light marks on the bases 
of the scales of the first and second rows are somewhat bet- 
ter developed than those above, which also results in the 
appearance of a narrow light longitudinal line, but this is 
very indefinite. The top of the head is light brown, the 
sides considerably variegated with yellow. The belly is 
light yellow, with the marginal series of blotches mentioned 
above. Interior to these blotches there is also, for about 
the anterior four-fifths of the length, a second row of small 
spots. The throat is also light yellow, and thickly spotted 
with black. The ventral surface of the tail is a light orange 
tint, immaculate.” 
The general coloration of living specimens often is quite 
red. 
Certain specimens taken near Camp Grant and Tucson, 
Arizona, and at Ensenada, La Paz, San Pedro, San Bartolo, 
and Triunfo, Lower California, are black or blackish. Such 
was the type of Cope’s Bascanium piceum. Two specimens 
from Tucson were jet black with the lower surfaces a beau- 
tiful coral pink. Ruthven describes a black specimen, from 
Tucson, as follows: 
Body and tail above, broadly including the ends of the 
ventral scutes, blue black without markings. Head dark 
brown with a few irregular reddish markings above. The 
loreals, preoculars and postoculars, and first six supralabials 
have bright orange yellow centers. Anterior part of throat 
