34-. LAMPROPELTIS 



tals. Anterior and posterior nasals distinct. Loreal a little 

 longer than high. One preocular and usually two postocu- 

 lars. Temporals normally two followed by three. Seven 

 superior, and 10, or rarely nine or 1 1, inferior labials; fifth 

 and sixth superior, and fifth or fourth inferior largest; 

 third and fourth superior reaching eye; first pair of inferior 

 meeting on median line. Genials in two pairs, anterior much 

 larger than posterior. Scales smooth, thin, imbricate, in 23 

 or rarely 25 rows. Anal plate not divided. Gastrosteges 

 varying in number from 228 to 240. Urosteges in two series 

 of from 46 to 54. 



The ground color of the head is black. The rostral is 

 white with a black border on the sides and above. The 

 nasals, loreal, oculars, and sometimes temporals have whitish 

 central spots. The labials and genials are whitish with 

 blackish edges. The white markings on the prefrontals and 

 internasals occupy not more than half the area of these 

 plates. The frontal plate has prominent whitish markings, 

 or at least whitish spots. Each parietal plate has one or 

 more white spots. Beneath the eye there usually is a rather 

 conspicuous enlargement of the dark borders of the third 

 and fourth labial plates. Light markings on the anterior 

 two rows of temporals are usually present. The pattern on 

 the body, like that of L. getulus boylii, is of whitish rings 

 on a black or dark brown ground color, but the scales of the 

 white rings are marked basally with brown or black, which 

 sometimes extends irregularly around the scales so as to 

 obscure the rings. The latter are narrow on the back, one to 

 two and a half scales in width, widening on the sides to 

 about two to five scales, and traversing the belly. The 

 rings may be broken on the midline above or below, and 

 alternate for a greater or less distance. They vary in num- 

 ber from 30 to 40 on body and tail. The belly usually is 

 crossed by the continuations of the black and white rings, 



