720 13. COLUBRIDEZ 
number of prefrontals (normally four), a frontal, supra- 
ocular of each side, and a pair of parietals. Anterior and 
posterior nasals usually distinct. Loreal usually elongate. 
Preoculars usually two, sometimes one. Postoculars nor- 
mally three, sometimes four, two or five. Supralabials 
usually eight, sometimes nine. Infralabials usually 13, 
sometimes 14 or 12, rarely 11, 10 or 15. Temporals of 
first row varying from two to six, usually four. Genials in 
two pairs, anterior larger. Scales on body in 29 to 35 rows, 
usually 33; keeled except in a varying number of rows on 
each side. Anal plate not divided. Gastrosteges varying in 
number from 217 to 243, males having from 217 to 243, 
females from 218 to 240. Urosteges in two series of from 
62 to 85, males having from 62 to 85, females from 62 
to 83. 
The ground color is yellow or grayish or brownish, usu- 
ally much obscured by the spreading the the blotches and 
the presence of dark marks on the keels of the scales. Along 
the middle of the back, from the head to a point over the 
anus, is a series of from 54 to 89 (average 74) dark brown 
or black blotches. The blotches of the median dorsal series 
usually are comparatively small, while those of the upper 
lateral series are large for that series and usually are irregu- 
larly blended with the median series. This blending is most 
marked anteriorly, where it often obscures the pattern. On 
the upper surface of the tail are from 14 to 29 (average 
22.8) dark brown or black blotches or cross-bars, usually 
discrete. On the sides are other series of dark brown or 
black spots, which may show a tendency to form broken 
longitudinal bands anteriorly. The usual head bands are 
present, but often are not very distinct. The top of the 
head is yellowish brown spotted or marbled with dark 
brown. The spaces between the dark dorsal blotches are 
yellow or light brown, sometimes with an orange tinge pos- 
