742 13. COLUBRIDM 



e. Pref rentals less than half white} frontal with- 

 out white or with only a narrow transverse bar 

 at anterior end; no white on parietals; infra- 

 labials usually nine. 



L. getulus yumensis. p. 757. 



e'. Pref rentals more than half white; frontal with 

 prominent white markings or at least a central 

 white spot; each parietal spotted with white; 

 infralabials usually ten. 



L. getulus conjuncta. p. 760. 



cc'. Dark areas not uniformly black or brown to gas- 

 trosteges, the lateral scales having light centers. 



L. getulus splendida. p. 763. 

 bb 1 . A longitudinal dorsal light or dark stripe or band, 



complete or interrupted, 

 ccc. Longitudinal dorsal markings, white, yellow or 



cinnamon, lighter than the dark ground color, 

 dd. Snout, gastrosteges and urosteges not chiefly or 

 uniformly dark brown or black; light markings 

 white or yellowish. 



L. calif orniae. p. 765. 



dd*. Snout, gastrosteges and urosteges chiefly or uni- 

 > f ormly brownish black, light markings pale brown 



or cinnamon. 



'- 



L. nitida. p. 767. 



ccc'. Longitudinal dorsal band purplish brown like the 

 ground color; lateral scales all with light centers; 

 lower surfaces chiefly black. 



L. catalinensis. p. 769. 



The harmless king snakes, of the genus Lampropeltis, 

 frequently are confused with the poisonous coral snakes of 

 the genus Micrurus or Elaps owing to the fact that both 

 are marked with rings of red, black and white or yellow. 

 It is easy to distinguish the poisonous species from the harm- 



