720 13. COLUBRID1E 



number of pref rentals (normally four), a frontal, supra- 

 ocular of each side, and a pair of parietals. Anterior and 

 posterior nasals usually distinct. Loreal usually elongate. 

 Preoculars usually two, sometimes one. Postoculars nor- 

 mally three, sometimes four, two or five. Supralabials 

 usually eight, sometimes nine. Infralabials usually 13, 

 sometimes 14 or 12, rarely 11, 10 or 15. Temporals of 

 first row varying from two to six, usually four. Genials in 

 two pairs, anterior larger. Scales on body in 29 to 35 rows, 

 usually 33; keeled except in a varying number of rows on 

 each side. Anal plate not divided. Gastrosteges varying in 

 number from 217 to 243, males having from 217 to 243, 

 females from 2 1 8 to 240. Urosteges in two series of from 

 62 to 85, males having from 62 to 85, females from 62 

 to 83. 



The ground color is yellow or grayish or brownish, usu- 

 ally much obscured by the spreading tfi^ the blotches and 

 the presence of dark marks on the keels of the scales. Along 

 the middle of the back, from the head to a point over the 

 anus, is a series of from 54 to 89 (average 74) dark brown 

 or black blotches. The blotches of the median dorsal series 

 usually are comparatively small, while those of the upper 

 lateral series are large for that series and usually are irregu- 

 larly blended with the median series. This blending is most 

 marked anteriorly, where it often obscures the pattern. On 

 the upper surface of the tail are from 14 to 29 (average 

 22.8) dark brown or black blotches or cross-bars, usually 

 discrete. On the sides are other series of dark brown or 

 black spots, which may show a tendency to form broken 

 longitudinal bands anteriorly. The usual head bands are 

 present, but often are not very distinct. The top of the 

 head is yellowish brown spotted or marbled with dark 

 brown. The spaces between the dark dorsal blotches are 

 yellow or light brown, sometimes with an orange tinge pos- 



