668 13. COLUBRID& 



tend to break up the ground color into cross bands, but only 

 five or six of these are distinct, the anterior four being near- 

 ly solid black. On either side of the belly there is a series 

 of blotches similar in color to the dorsal surface, except 

 anteriorly where they are black. Between this series of gas- 

 trostegeal spots and the first row of scales, which also has 

 the color of the dorsal surface, is a white line that includes 

 the tips of the gastrosteges and the lower edge of the first 

 row of dorsal scales. Similarly the light marks on the bases 

 of the scales of the first and second rows are somewhat bet- 

 ter developed than those above, which also results in the 

 appearance of a narrow light longitudinal line, but this is 

 very indefinite. The top of the head is light brown, the 

 sides considerably variegated with yellow. The belly is 

 light yellow, with the marginal series of blotches mentioned 

 above. Interior to these blotches there is also, for about 

 the anterior four-fifths of the length, a second row of small 

 spots. The throat is also light yellow, and thickly spotted 

 with black. The ventral surface of the tail is a light orange 

 tint, immaculate." 



The general coloration of living specimens often is quite 

 red. 



Certain specimens taken near Camp Grant and Tucson, 

 Arizona, and at Ensenada, La Paz, San Pedro, San Bartolo, 

 and Triunfo, Lower California, are black or blackish. Such 

 was the type of Cope's Bascanium piceum. Two specimens 

 from Tucson were jet black with the lower surfaces a beau- 

 tiful coral pink. Ruthven describes a black specimen, from 

 Tucson, as follows: 



Body and tail above, broadly including the ends of the 

 ventral scutes, blue black without markings. Head dark 

 brown with a few irregular reddish markings above. The 

 loreals, preoculars and postoculars, and first six supralabials 

 have bright orange yellow centers. Anterior part of throat 



