SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS. 47 
band of reddish-brown extends along each side of the abdomen, separated 
from the first brown line by a space of yellow. Belly and throat yellow, 
spotted with brown anteriorly. Orbitals and crown-shields with yellow 
margins or spots. Wyoming to Texas, California and Mexico, 
SPILOTEs, 
Wagler, 1830. 
Body long, compressed; head, distinct from the neck, muzzle rounded; 
tail moderate. Hye large, pupil round. Teeth equal, smooth. A loreal. 
Anteorbital one, rarely two. Postoculars two to three. Scales keeled 
or smooth, in 15—23 rows. Anal entire. Subcaudals in two rows or 
simple. 
(Georgia.) 
Scales smooth, in 17 rows; subcaudals generally simple; 
black; labials seven; ventrals 184—190 coupert. 
black, with reddish-white spots; labials eight obsoletus. 
(Spilotes.) 
Scales smooth, in 17 rows, rarely 15; subeaudals usually in two rows; 
brown; lighter anteriorly, with faint indications of transverse zigzag 
bands of dark; ventrals about 205 corais. 
Seales faintly keeled, in 15 (15 to 17) rows; 
yellowish, marked with chevron bands of brown; darker posteriorly ; 
ventrals about 220 variabilis. 
16 rows of scales; 
posterior two thirds of body black melanurus. 
18 or 19 rows of scales; 
hinder third of body with chevron bands of yellow 
auribundus. 
21 to 23 rows of scales; 
uniform brown above, a few vertebral scales yellow with 
black tip poecilonotus, 
