28. COLUBER 



Zamenis lateralis Brown, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1901, p. 61 (part); 

 DiTMARS, Reptile Book, 1907, p. 288; Ruthung, Copeia, No. 15, 

 1915. 



Coluber lateralis GRlN>fELL & Camp, Univ. Cal. Publ. Zool., Vol. 17, 

 No. 10, 1917, p. 190; Stejneger & Barbour, Chec'rc List N. Amer. 

 Amph. Kept., 1917, p. 80; Cowles, Journ. Entomol.& Zool. .Pomona 

 College, Vol. XII, No. 3, 1920, p. 66; Stephens, Trans. San Diego 

 Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. Ill, No. 4, 1921, p. 64; Van Denburgh & 

 Slevin, Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., Ser. 4, Vol. XI, 1921, p. 59; Nelson, 

 Mem. Nat. Acad. Sci., Vol. XVI, 1921, pp. 114, 115. 



Description. — Head long, with flattened top and narrow, 

 rounded snout. Rostral plate large, about as high as broad, 

 hollowed below, and bounded behind by internasal, anterior 

 nasal, and first labial plates. Plates on top of head are a 

 pair of internasals, a larger pair of prefrontals, supraocular 

 and part of upper preocular of each side, a long and pos- 

 teriorly narrow frontal, and a pair of very large parietals. 

 Anterior and posterior nasals distinct. Loreal rather large, 

 rarely with a small plate below it. Preoculars two, upper 

 much larger than lower. Postoculars two (or three), nearly 

 equal. Temporals two followed by two, rarely 2+3, 1+2, 

 or I + l. Eight, or rarely seven or nine, superior and nine or 

 ten (rarely eight) inferior labials, seventh (or sixth) upper 

 and fifth lower usually largest, fourth and fifth (or third 

 and fourth) upper reaching eye, first pair of lower meeting 

 on median line. Genials in two pairs, posterior larger than 

 anterior. Scales on body smooth, in 17 rows. Anal plate 

 divided. Gastrosteges varying in number from 186 to 202. 

 Urosteges in two series of from 1 1 1 to 133. Tail very long 

 and slender. 



The color above, including the tips of the gastrosteges 

 and urosteges, is dark brown, palest on the tail. A single 

 light yellow or white line extends along each side, on the 

 third and fourth rows of scales, to, or a little beyond, the 

 base of the tail. This line is often bordered with black, 



