13. COLUBRID.^ 



very rarely in 25 rows. Anal plate not divided. Gastrosteges 

 varying in number from 1 98 to 222. Tail short but slender. 

 Urosteges in two series of from 45 to 61. 



The snout may be black, white or spotted. The middle 

 third of the head is black. A white band crosses the back 

 of the head, involving the tips of the parietal plates, and 

 joining the white of the throat. Behind this white one is a 

 full or half ring of black, followed in turn by another of red. 

 The whole body is similarly marked, being encircled by from 

 25 to 43 white rings* between which are rings of black 

 more or less divided and replaced by blotches or rings of 

 red or pink. The proportion of black to red varies greatly 

 in different specimens, as does also the intensity of the red. 

 This color is sometimes present anteriorly only, and is 

 usually absent near the tip of the tail. The colors of the 

 back and sides are continued, somewhat irregularly, onto 

 the lower surfaces. The white areas, and more rarely the 

 red ones also, are sometimes tinged with dull yellowish 

 brown. The white rings are little if at all broader on the 

 sides than on the back. 



Length to anus 288 486 560 607 695 722 



Length of tail +6 71 97 111 118 124- 



Distribution. — This brilliant snake seems to prefer the 

 moister, cooler portions of California, such as are occupied 

 by coniferous forests. It has been taken in San Diego 

 (vicinity of San Diego), Riverside (Strawberry Valley at 

 6,000 feet in the San Jacinto Mountains, Banning), San 

 Bernardino (San Bernardino Mountains, Upper Santa Ana 

 at 5,500 feet), Los Angeles (Sierra Madre, vicinity Pasa- 

 dena, San Gabriel Mountains, Placerita Canyon, Little Te- 

 junga Canyon, Arroyo Seco Canyon, Claremont), Ventura 

 (Matilija), Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara), Inyo (Mount 



•Not counting the 5 to II on the taiL 



