40. THAMNOPHIS 831 
The ground color above is olive or greenish-yellow or 
brown. Along the middle of the back runs a yellow line 
of varying width. On the second and third rows of scales 
of each side is a similar yellow line. Any or all of these 
lines may be very indistinct or even absent. On each side 
of the back are two series of alternating black spots, the 
upper of which encroach upon the dorsal line. These spots 
sometimes unite to form a zigzag band along each side, or 
may be obscured by the darkening of the ground color. The 
top of the head is usually light brown, with a yellow pineal 
spot. There is a pair of large dark nuchal blotches. The 
gastrosteges and urosteges are almost always more or less 
marbled with black or slate, especially near their anterior 
edges and along the middle of the belly. The chin and 
throat normally are yellowish white. 
Length to anus _______. 295 342 485 520 525 535 
Eength of tail’ 2 = 97 117 175 150 160 155, 
Variation—In one hundred snakes of this subspecies 
the loreal is 1—1 in all specimens. Preoculars 1—1 in 
eighty-one, or 81%; 2—2 in thirteen, or 13% ; 1—2 in 
five, or 5%; and 2—3 in one, or 1%. Postoculars are 3—3 
in eighty-eight, or 88%; 2—3 in four, or 4%; 3—4 in 
four, or 4%; 44 in three, or 3%; and 2—2 in one, or 
1%. Temporals are 1+2—1+2 in sixty-seven, or 67%; 
1+2—1+3 in twenty, or 20%; and 1+3—1+3 in thir- 
teen, or 13%. The supralabials are 8—8 in eighty-nine, 
or 89%; 7—8 in eight, or 8%; and 7—7 in three, or 3%. 
The infralabials are 10—10 in eighty-six, or 86%; 9—10 
in seven, or 7%; 10—11 in four, or 4%; 9—8 in one, or 
1% and 11—11 in one, or 1%. The scale-rows are 21— 
21—17 in fifty-five, or 55%; 21—19—17 in thirty-three, 
or 33%; 19—21—19—17 in four, or 4%3 19—21—17 
