Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 183 



Color. — Ground color pale gray, with a dorsal row of brown blotches 

 with black borders, ten or twelve scales wide and three or four long, 

 separated by interspaces of one and one-half to two scales long. A 

 second series of smaller alternating spots from the third to the seventh 

 rows, subcircular in shape. A third indistinct series on the second and 

 third rows, and a fourth indicated on the outer row and the ends of 

 the ventrals. Belly yellowish or white, with irregular ashy blotches 

 posteriorly. Top of head much banded. A dark oblique post-ocular 

 stripe. 



Size.— TotSil length 796 mm.; tail 163 mm. Total length 1330 mm.; 

 tail 190 mm. 



Habitat. — Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and 

 Texas. Missouri localities: — Jefferson and Stone coun- 

 ties. 



Habits. — This species is rather rare. So far I have 

 only found it on the southern slopes of the Ozark plateau. 

 Its food consists of mice, etc. It is generally found under 

 rocks. I once caught one in a house. 



Genus lampropeltis. 



Maxillary teeth smooth, slightly increasing posteriorly, but not sep- 

 arated by an interspace. One loral, two nasals, one preocular, two post- 

 oculars. Scales smooth, with two pores each, in 19 to 25 rows. Anal 

 entire. 



Key to the Species in Missouri. 



Scales in 21 rows. Ground color reddish or gray, with 40 to 50 

 chocolate or "brown saddle-shaped blotches, which are bordered 

 with black. doliatus. 



Scales in 21 to 23 hows. Size large Black with centers of scales 

 white or yellowish. These sometimes form transverse rows 

 of spots. getulus. 



Scales in 25 rows. Grayish brown with from 40 to 60 dark blotches 

 above. Belly blotched. calligaster. 



69. Lampropeltis doliatus Linnaeus. House Snake. Milk 

 Snake. King Snake. 



Coluber doliatus, Coronella doliata, Ophiholus doliatus, Ophibolus dolia- 

 tus doliatus, Ophibolus doliatus triangulus, Osceola doliata, Osceola 

 doliata doliata. 



Description. — Rostral wider than high. Nasals two, nostril mostly 

 between the two. Loral one, a little longer than high; one anteorbital; 



