716 13. COLUBRIDA 
three, sometimes four or five. Supralabials usually eight 
sometimes nine, rarely seven or 10. Infralabials usually 
13, sometimes 12, 14 or 11. Temporals of first row vary- 
ing from two to six, usually four. Genials in two pairs, 
anterior larger. Scales on body in 29 to 35 rows, usually 
31; keeled except in a varying number of rows on each side. 
Anal plate not divided. Gastrosteges varying in number 
from 209 to 231, males having from 209 to 231, females 
from 218 to 231. Urosteges in two series of from 55 to 
74, males having from 61 to 74, females from 55 to 66. 
The ground color is pale brownish or grayish yellow, 
sometimes obscured by the spreading of the blotches or the 
presence of dark marks along the keels of the scales. Along 
the middle of the back between the head and the anus is a 
series of from 48 to 70 (average 58) dark brown blotches. 
On the upper surface of the tail are from 13 to 19 (average 
15) blotches. There are several series of smaller alternat- 
ing dark blotches on the sides. These spots and blotches 
often are edged with darker brown or black, and tend to 
become blackish on the tail. Across the top of the head, 
between the preocular plates, is a narrow band of brown. A 
similar line runs down from the center of the eye, and 
another back and down from the upper postocular plate. 
The lower surfaces are yellow or yellowish white, usually 
blotched with black or brown. 
Length to anus_______548 838 877 906 974 1022 
Length of tail... ety 148 174 153 Wee 175 
Variation.—The loreal is 1—1 in all of the 28 speci- 
mens. The preoculars are 2—2 in twenty-six, or 937%; and 
1—1 in two, or 7%. The postoculars are 3—3 in twenty- 
three, or 85%; 44 in three, or 11%; and 4—S in one, or 
4%. The temporals are 4—4 in eleven or 45%; 3—4 in 
five, or 21%; 5—5 in three, or 13%; 3—3 in three, or 
