33. PITUOPHIS 



require recognition as a distinct subspecies, P. sayi affinis 

 (Hallowell). 



Habits. — Ruthven states that a large specimen, secured 

 near Tucson about sun down on August 22, had recently 

 swallowed an adult ground squirrel. These snakes live both 

 on the desert plains near sea level and in mountain canyons 

 to an altitude of at least 5,300 feet. 



164. Pituophis vertebralis (Blainville) 



San Lucan Gopher-Snake 



Coluber vertebralis Blainville, Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat., Vol. IV, 

 1838, p. 29J, pi. 27, figs. i-ih (type locality, California); Baird 

 & GiRARD, Cat. N. Amer. Rept., Pt. I, Serp., 1853, p. 152. 



Pituophis vertebralis Dumeril et Bibron, Erpetologie Generale, Vol. 



VII, p. 238; BocouRT, Miss. Sci. au Mex., Reptiles, p. 672, pi. 

 XLVII, figs, i-id; Van Denburgh, Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., Ser. 2, 

 Vol. V, p. 150; Stejneger & Barbour, Check List N. Amer. 

 Amph. Rept., 1917, p. 86; Van Denburgh, Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., 

 Ser. 4, Vol. X, No. i, 1920, p. 27; Van Denburgh & Slevin, Proc. 

 Cal. Acad. Sci., Ser. 4, Vol. XI, 1921, pp. 52, 67; Nelson, Mem. 

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



Pityophis haematois Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phiia., i860, p. 342 

 (type locality, Cape St. Lucas). 



Pityophis vertebralis Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., i860, p. 342; 

 Cope, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. i, 1875, PP- 39. 9^; Yarrow, 

 Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 24, p. 107; Carman, Bull. Essex Inst., 

 Vol. XVI, 1884, p. 27; Cope, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 32, 1887, 

 p. 72; Belding, West Amer. Scientist, Vol. Ill, No. 24, p. 98; 

 Cope, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XIV, 1892, p. 642; Cope, Report 

 U. S. Nat. Mus. for 1898, 1900, p. 879; Terron, Mem. y Rev. 

 Soc. Cient. Antonio Alzate, Vol. 39, 1921, pp. 164, 170. 



Pityophis melanoleucus vertebralis Jan, Elenco sist. degli Ofidi, 1863, 



p. 59; Jan, Iconogr. gener. Oph., 22e livr., 1867, pi. i, fig. 3. 

 Pityophis catenifer Carman, Mem. Mus. Compr. Zool. Cambr., Vol. 



VIII, No. 3, 1883, pp. 52, 150 (part). 



