796 13. COLUBRID& 



Plates on top of head, a pair of internasals, a pair of pre- 

 frontals, a frontal, supraocular of each side, and a pair of 

 parietals. Anterior and posterior nasals distinct. One loreal. 

 One preocular and normally three, rarely two or four, post- 

 oculars. Temporals normally one followed by two, some- 

 times 1 + 1 or 1+3. Seven or rarely eight, superior and 

 nine to 11, normally 10, inferior labials, the fifth or sixth 

 superior and fifth, sixth or seventh inferior largest, the third 

 and fourth or fourth and fifth superior reaching eye, the 

 first pair of inferior meeting on the median line. Two pairs 

 of genials, posterior longer than anterior. Scales in 19 

 19 17 rows, all keeled except sometimes the first row on 

 each side. Anal plate not divided. Gastrosteges varying 

 in number from 146 to 170, males having from 150 to 170, 

 females from 146 to 167. Urosteges in two series of from 

 66 to 95, males having from 70 to 95, females from 

 66 to 91. 



This subspecies differs from T. s. parietalis in darker 

 color only. Some specimens approach the typical form 

 in having red blotches on the sides. The normal coloration 

 is, however, fairly constant. The ground color above is 

 deep blackish brown or black, with three light longitudinal 

 lines. These lines are often very narrow, but may be as 

 wide as in the typical T. sirtalis parietalis, and may be white, 

 grayish, bluish, greenish, or pale yellow. The median 

 dorsal line may fade out posteriorly, and the lateral lines 

 may be very faint. A narrow black line sometimes runs 

 along the tips of the gastrosteges. The top of the head 

 often is blackish, but may be redj its sides are light. The 

 lower surfaces are bluish black, slate, or greenish, lighter 

 anteriorly, the throat being yellowish white. 



Length to anus 165 410 500 540 650 690 



Length of tail 51 125 180 160 190 215 



