4 University of Michigan 



forking on the sides is irregular or obsolete, the cross bands on 

 the back ending abruptly at about the level of the seventh rovv- 

 of scales. Alternating with the dorsal cross bands is a series 

 of transversely elongated light spots, about two scales wide, 

 extending from about the second to the seventh row of scales. 

 Alternating with the latter is a series of light spots about two 

 scales long which overlap the ends of the gastrosteges and the 

 first row or two of dorsal scales. The scahs of the light bands 

 are often sharply tipped with black. Furthermore, and in 

 distinction from L. gcUtlus, each scale of the dark area has a 

 development of white, beginning at its basal end and spread- 

 ing distally to cover one-half to three-quarters of its area. 

 This basal lightening of the dark scales may be so pronounced 

 as to greatly obscure the pattern of alternating transverse bands 

 of white. The belly is checked with black and white, the actual 

 colors varying from white to creamy white or yellow, and from 

 black to yellowish brown. 



Each branch of the copulatory organ may be described as 

 follows : Strongly bifurcate, the forks one-fifth the total length 

 of the organ ; sulcus single, extending over ths side of the larger 

 fork, and down the inner side of the V, distal surface smooth, 

 succeeded proximally by a few slightly fringed calyces ; short 

 fringes rapidly becoming modified into small spines which in- 

 crease in size basally, and, one-half way down the organ, stop 

 abruptly ; basal half of organ smooth except for a few scatter- 

 ed minute spines, chiefly near the large ones ; no spines dis- 

 tinctly enlarged. 



The skull is essentially like that of L. getulus. A specimen 

 "from Orange Hammock, De Soto County, Florida ( U. S. N. 

 M., No. 22367) has the following dental characters : maxillary 

 teeth increasing very gradually in size posteriorly, the last three 

 slightly larger than those preceding, 1 5' on each side ; mandi- 



