Description. — Top of head very slightly rounded, cov- 

 ered with plates which often differ greatly in size, shape and 

 number in different individuals. Rostral plate very large. 

 Between it and broad frontal are two or three pairs of plates: 

 anterior nasal, internasal and prefrontal. Labial and pre- 

 frontal plates sometimes entering orbital ring. A single loreal 

 usually present, but sometimes two or none. Supralabials 

 eight to 1 1 , often nine, the anterior ones usually very high, 

 but, like all the headplates, subject to much variation. 

 Infralabials nine to 13, usually 11. Scales on body smooth, 

 imbricate, about as wide as long, and arranged in from 41 

 to 49 longitudinal rows 5 lowest row on each side formed of 

 larger scales. Gastrosteges narrow, varying in number from 

 192 to 218. Urosteges varying in number from 27 to 40, 

 usually all single, but sometimes a few divided. Anal spurs 

 small but distinct. Tail very short and nearly as blunt as 

 head. 



All the upper and lateral surfaces are grayish, yellowish 

 or greenish brown, without dark or light markings. The 

 chin and throat are sometimes clouded with gray or brown. 

 The rest of the lower surface is yellowish white. 



Four young, from Placer County, are dull buff both above 

 and below. 



Length to anus 193 238 336 408 482 519 



Length of tail 26 31 47 58 58 73 



Remarks. — In one specimen from Red Point, Placer 

 County, and one from Fyf fe. El Dorado County, California, 

 the scales are in 41 rows. Other specimens from these local- 

 ities have 43 rows. All other specimens from California, 

 Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, of which I have records 

 have more than 41 rows of scales. Thus of 47 specimens 

 from these states 1 5 have 43 rows, 20 have 45, six have 47, 

 and six have 49 rows. 



