40. THAMNOPHIS 845 
reaching eye, first pair of inferior meeting on median line. 
Two pairs of genials, the posterior usually much longer than 
anterior. Scales on body in 21, or very rarely 19, rows. 
Anal plate not divided. Gastrosteges varying in number 
from 156 to 173, males having from 163 to 173, females 
from 156 to 171. Urosteges in two series of from 67 to 
88, males having from 69 to 88, females from 67 to 82. 
The ground color is grayish brown or olive marked, 
in young specimens, with numerous black spots which usual- 
ly disappear with age. The dorsal line is always absent, or 
represented by a yellow spot on the neck. The lateral lines 
are either distinct or blended with the color of the belly. 
Black spots are frequently present on the first row of scales 
and tips of the gastrosteges. The top of the head is olive, 
with a yellow pineal spot on the line between the parietal 
plates. Dark nuchal blotches are present. The lower sur- 
faces are whitish or grayish yellow. 
A specimen showing the colors in life is described by 
Dr. Grinnell as follows: Ventrally the snake is dusky yel- 
low anteriorly, becoming dusky posteriorly, finely mottled 
with slate; there is a pinkish tinge down the middle of the 
belly. Dorsally the snake is uniformly dark sepia, without 
any median dorsal stripe; but on each side involving the 
second row of scales dorsally from the gastrosteges, a dusky 
yellowish line runs from the yellowish side of the head 
back to the region of the vent, where it becomes so dusky as 
to merge with the uniformly sordid color clear around. 
Along each side, above the lateral stripes, are flecks of whit- 
ish between the scales which show when the skin is stretched 
a little so as to separate the scales. There are also flecks of 
black, mostly further down the sides, which likewise show 
clearest when the scales are parted. On the nape of the 
neck is a dusky yellow dab, which looks as though it might 
be the remnant of a median dorsal stripe; also there is a 
