188 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



yellow or white, more or less spotted anteriorly with 

 black, gray, brown, or yellow. These spots usually 

 form one row along each side of the anterior gastro- 

 steges. 



Young are more or less distinctly cross-barred above 

 with gray, brown, or black, and show a light line or 

 blotch along the side of the face. The latter mark is 

 often retained by adults. 



Length to anus 303 541 723 



Length of tail 96 J85 242 



Distribution. — The Western Whip Snake or "Red 

 Racer " has its true home in the deserts of San Diego, 

 San Bernardino, Kern, and Inyo Counties, but lives 

 also in the southwestern part of the State, and along 

 the eastern side of the San Joaquin Valley. It has 

 been taken in San Diego (Fort Yuma, Mountain Spring 

 Colorado Desert, San Diego, Agua Caliente), Riverside 

 (PaJm Springs, San Jacinto, Riverside), Los Angeles 

 (Pasadena, Drum Barracks), San Bernardino (Ontario, 

 Needles), Inyo (Death Valley, Panamint Valley, Deep 

 Spring Valley, Keeler, Owen's Valley), Fresno (Fresno), 

 Mariposa (Yosemite Valley) Counties, California, and 

 crosses southern Nevada (Vegas Valley, Overton). 



Habits. — The ''Red Racer," like its relatives, is re- 

 markable for the quickness of its movements. It climbs 

 trees and bushes with great agility. 



6o. — Bascanion laterale (HalJowell). California Racer. 



Leptophis lateralis. Hallow., Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., VI, 1853, 



p. 237 (type locality California); Hallow., Pac. R. R. Surv., 



X, Rept., 1859, p. 13, pi. IV, fig. 3a-3c. 

 Bascanium taniaium laterale, Yarrow, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 24, 



1882, p. 113 (part). 

 Bascanium laterale laterale. Cope, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIV, 1891, 



(1892), p. 628. 

 Bascanion laterale, Stejneger, N. A. Fauna, No. 7, 1893, p. 209. 



