34. LAMPROPELTIS 761 
tals. Anterior and posterior nasals distinct. Loreal a little 
longer than high. One preocular and usually two postocu- 
lars. Temporals normally two followed by three. Seven 
superior, and 10, or rarely nine or 11, inferior labials; fifth 
and sixth superior, and fifth or fourth inferior largest; 
third and fourth superior reaching eye; first pair of inferior 
meeting on median line. Genials in two pairs, anterior much 
larger than posterior. Scales smooth, thin, imbricate, in 23 
or rarely 25 rows. Anal plate not divided. Gastrosteges 
varying in number from 228 to 240. Urosteges in two series 
of from 46 to 54. 
The ground color of the head is black. The rostral is 
white with a black border on the sides and above. The 
nasals, loreal, oculars, and sometimes temporals have whitish 
central spots. The labials and genials are whitish with 
blackish edges. The white markings on the prefrontals and 
internasals occupy not more than half the area of these 
plates. The frontal plate has prominent whitish markings, 
or at least whitish spots. Each parietal plate has one or 
more white spots. Beneath the eye there usually is a rather 
conspicuous enlargement of the dark borders of the third 
and fourth labial plates. Light markings on the anterior 
two rows of temporals are usually present. The pattern on 
the body, like that of Z. getulus boylii, is of whitish rings 
on a black or dark brown ground color, but the scales of the 
white rings are marked basally with brown or black, which 
sometimes extends irregularly around the scales so as to 
obscure the rings. The latter are narrow on the back, one to 
two and a half scales in width, widening on the sides to 
about two to five scales, and traversing the belly. The 
rings may be broken on the midline above or below, and 
alternate for a greater or less distance. They vary in num- 
ber from 30 to 40 on body and tail. The belly usually is 
crossed by the continuations of the black and white rings, 
