41. SON OR A 



anus are from 21 to 33 transverse bars or rings of black or 

 dark brown. These black markings do not reach the gas- 

 trosteges anteriorly, but become complete rings posteriorly 

 at a distance in front of the anus which varies greatly in 

 different specimens and is not dependent upon age or locality. 

 On the tail are from six to 1 similar dark rings. On the 

 dorsal surface of the body the dark bars or rings usually 

 are much narrower than the intervals which separate them, 

 but in some specimens the interspaces are little or no greater 

 than the black areas. In specimens which have been long in 

 alcohol these intervals are white, but in fresher specimens 

 approximately the middle two-fourths of each interspace is 

 occupied by a transverse orange or yellow or pinkish bar 

 which extends down on the sides to about the second or third 

 row of scales. The ventral surfaces are white, unmarked 

 anteriorly, but posteriorly, at a varying distance from the 

 head, showing blackish spots, bars or rings corresponding to 

 or actually part of the dorsal dark markings. These ventral 

 black marks may begin at a point corresponding to the second 

 dorsal black bar, or may first appear only three or four bars 

 in front of the anus. The lower surface of the tail is 

 crossed by the black caudal rings. 



The colors in life of a specimen captured near Yuma, 

 Arizona, March 19, were as follows: 



The dark rings were pure black, and between each pair 

 of black rings was a transverse bar or half ring of cadmium 

 orange, of about the same width on the midline as the black 

 rings, and separated from them by a nearly equal space, 

 which was pale lemon yellow. This lemon tint extended 

 down onto the sides, and the lower surfaces were a paler 

 lemon. 



Richardson describes a fresh specimen as creamy white 

 in color the dorsal surface being slightly tinged with olive, 

 and crossed by numerous bands of an intense brownish black. 



