4 University of Michigan 



living specimens. In the following description the nomencla- 

 ture is capitalized when it is that of Ridgway. 



The general dorsal color is olive gray anteriorly, gradually 

 changing to a reddish lirown posteriorly. The actual variation 

 in the series is from Olivaceous Black to Grayish Olive. The 

 sides of the hody vary from Deep Slate Olive to Grayish Olive. 

 A distinct and very constant character of the species is the- 

 yellow anterior edges of the dorsal scales ; this is very evident 

 if the skin is slightly stretched (PI. I). These yellow marks 

 do not extend more than three or four scale rows from the 

 mid-dorsal scale row. 



The general color below is a bright yellow, anteriorly vary- 

 ing from light Chalcedony Yellow to Shaw Yellow. This 

 yellow changes to a light Blue Gray on the middle third of 

 the body; on the posterior third, to pinkish; and, finally, near 

 the tail in most specimens to a bright true Old Rose — rarely 

 to a Light Coral Red. 



The throat l)elow is dotted with dark orange; the lielly has 

 very numerous minute gray dots. There is a concentration 

 of the gray dots on the ventral surface toward the lateral one- 

 fifth or fourth of the scutes, making this portion of the scutes 

 a general gray color. The tail is immaculate. On some few 

 specimens there is also a light yellowish lateral strii)e occupy- 

 ing the angle of the scutes and a small portion of row i ; 

 the gray dotting may also break up so as to leave an im- 

 dotted yellow stri])e in a mid-ventral position on the scutes. 



The sides of the neck may have one or more light cream 

 stripes. In one specimen, not fully grown, (M. C. Z. 13951) a 

 light lateral stripe is present and continues the length of the 

 body. Anf)ther sjjecimen (U. S. N. M. 1974), very young, 



