840 13. COLUBRID 
back, but often is very indistinct. Dorsal spots are present 
in some specimens and may invade the edges of the dorsal 
line, if present, or may resemble those of J. ordinoides 
hammondii. The lower surfaces are usually yellowish or 
greenish gray sometimes more or less uniformly clouded 
with slate or with dark markings similar to those of JT. ordin- 
oides vagrans. 
Length to anus -_._..___357 684 740 827 1095 1096 
Length of tail = = 119 1.0 9) nee 242 280 311 
V ariation.—The loreal is 1—1 in oe -seven specimens. 
Preoculars 1—1 in fifty-two, or 819%; 2—2 in eleven, or 
17%; and 1—2 in one, or 2%; Postoculars 3—3 in fi 
six, or 89%; 2—3 in six, or 9%; and 2—2 in one, or 2%. 
Temporals 1+2—1+2 in thirty-eight, or 60%; 1+3—1+3 
in thirteen, or 20%; 1+2—1+3 in eleven, or 17%; and 
1+3—1+4 in one, or 2%. The supralabials are 8—8 in 
sixty-two, or 95%; and 8—9 in three, or 5%. The infra- 
labials are 10—10 in forty, or 61%; 11—11 in twelve, or 
18%; 9—10 in six, or 9% ; 10—11 in five, or 8%; 11—9 
in one, or 2%; and 9—9 in one, or 2%. The scale-rows are 
21—19—17 in thirty-one, or 48%; 21—21—17 in twenty- 
four, or 38%; 19—21—19—17 in six, or 9% 3 19—19—17 
in two, or 3%; and 23—21—17 in two, or 3%. The gas- 
trosteges vary from 153 to 181, males having from 160 to 
181, females from 153 to 177; the average in twenty-two 
males is 172.3, in forty-three fae 167. The urosteges 
vary from 65 to 99, males having from 77 to 99, females 
from 65 to 88; the average in fourteen males is 88.4, in 
thirty-eight females, 81.7. 
Distribution —This subspecies is the common water- 
snake of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys of Cali- 
fornia from Shasta to Kern counties. It ranges west into 
