698 13. COLUBRID^ 



Elaphe FiTziNGER in Wagler, Dcscr. Icon. Amphib., Pt. 3, 1833, text to 

 plate 27 (type, E. parreysii = quatuorlineata); Stejneger, Bull. 

 U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 58, 1907, p. 307. 



Scotophis Baird & GiRARD, Cat. N. Amer. Rcpt., Pt. I, Serpents, 1853, 

 p. 73 (type, Coluber alkghaniensis). 



The body is rather long and moderately slender, sub- 

 cylindric, with tail elongate and tapering. The head is 

 distinct from the neck, large, long, with flattened top and 

 rounded snout. Its plates are normal. The nasal plates 

 are not united. Usually one or two preoculars, two post- 

 oculars, and a loreal. Scales on body keeled or smooth, 

 usually with two apical pits. The anal plate is divided. 

 Urosteges are in two series. The eye is moderately large, 

 with round pupil. Maxillary teeth about equal in size. 



A large number of species have been described from 

 Europe, Asia and America. They usually have been referred 

 to under the generic name Coluber. Two species have been 

 found within the geographic limits of the present work. 

 They may be distinguished by the following 



Synopsis of Species 



a. — Gastrosteges more than 265; urosteges fewer than 95; 

 supralabials 10 or 11. 



E. rosaliac. — p. 698. 

 a'. — Gastrosteges fewer than 265; urosteges more than 95; 

 supralabials eight or nine. 



E. chlorosoma. — p. 700, 



155. Elaphe rosaliae (Mocquard) 

 Yellow Snake 



Coluber rosalia: Mocquard, Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat., Paris, Ser. 4, 

 Vol. I, 1899, p. 321, pi. 12, figs. I, la-b (type locality, Santa] 

 Lower California, Mexico). 



