750 13. COLUBRID 
very rarely in 25 rows. Anal plate not divided. Gastrosteges 
varying in number from 198 to 222. Tail short but slender. 
Urosteges in two series of from 45 to 61. 
The snout may be black, white or spotted. The middle 
third of the head is black. A white band crosses the back 
of the head, involving the tips of the parietal plates, and 
joining the white of the throat. Behind this white one is a 
full or half ring of black, followed in turn by another of red. 
The whole body is similarly marked, being encircled by from 
25 to 43 white rings* between which are rings of black 
more or less divided and replaced by blotches or rings of 
red or pink. The proportion of black to red varies greatly 
in different specimens, as does also the intensity of the red. 
This color is sometimes present anteriorly only, and is 
usually absent near the tip of the tail. The colors of the 
back and sides are continued, somewhat irregularly, onto 
the lower surfaces. The white areas, and more rarely the 
red ones also, are sometimes tinged with dull yellowish 
brown. The white rings are little if at all broader on the 
sides than on the back. 
Length to,anuse 288 486 560 607 695 722 
Length of ‘tail = 46 7 97 111 118 124 
Distribution.—This brilliant snake seems to prefer the 
moister, cooler portions of California, such as are occupied 
by coniferous forests. It has been taken in San Diego 
(vicinity of San Diego), Riverside (Strawberry Valley at 
6,000 feet in the San Jacinto Mountains, Banning), San 
Bernardino (San Bernardino Mountains, Upper Santa Ana 
at 5,500 feet), Los Angeles (Sierra Madre, vicinity Pasa- 
dena, San Gabriel Mountains, Placerita Canyon, Little Te- 
junga Canyon, Arroyo Seco Canyon, Claremont), Ventura 
(Matilija), Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara), Inyo (Mount 
*Not counting the 5 to 11 on the tail. 
