AMPHIBIA AND REPTILIA OF COLORADO 105 



yellow or slightly pink, somewhat clouded in the anterior regions ; 

 sometimes with very indistinct cross bands in the caudal region. The 

 general color of this species varies from dark brown to gray or red 

 brown in the different portions of its range. 



The name Coachwhip Snake is quite descriptive of the posterior 

 half of the body where the scales are so arranged as to give the appear- 

 ance of the plaited cord of a whip. 



This very active species ranges from Florida to California, south 

 into Mexico and north into Kansas, Colorado and Utah. 



Colorado specimens. — University Museum: Boulder, May 23, 1905 (295 

 mm.), No. 254; Altona, July 14, 1912 (340 mm.), N. deW. Betts, No. 255; 

 Colorado Stale Historical and Natural History Museum: Yuma, June 7, 1905 

 (750 mm.), H. G. Smith; State Teachers' College Museum: Las Animas and Baca 

 counties, A. E. Beardsley. 



Zamenis taeniatus (Hallowell) 

 Striped Racer 



Leptophis taeniata Hallowell, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., Vol. VI, p. 181, 

 1852. 



Bascanium taenialum taeniatum— Yarrow, U.S.N. M., Bull. 24, p. 112, 1882 

 (Canyon Creek, Colo.). 1 



Zamenis taeniatus — Cope, Rept. U.S.N.M., p. 817, 1898 (Canyon Creek, 

 Colo.). 



Bascanion taeniatus — Cary, N. Am. Fauna, No. 3$, p. 27, 1911 (Plateau 

 Creek, Morris, Colo.). 



Dorsal scales in 15, rarely 17, rows; superior labials, 8; ventrals, 

 180 to 220; tail one-fourth to one-third of the total length; average 

 specimens three or four feet in length. 



Dorsally pale brown to dark brown, gradually becoming lighter 

 toward the tail; ventral parts yellowish, usually somewhat spotted, 

 especially near the head ; a yellowish stripe along the junction of the 

 ventrals with the first row of dorsal scales and a second yellowish stripe 

 on the third and fourth rows of scales (variety ornatus) ; or a narrow 

 black stripe on each of the first four or five rows of scales and at the 

 junction of the ventrals and the first row, with lighter areas between 

 (variety taeniatus) . 



1 There is a Canyon Creek in La Plata County and another in Ouray County. 



