REVISION OF THE KING SNAKES. 27 



(41 to 85) narrow dotted cross bands of white or yellow separated 

 b}^ unspotted areas; head, neck, and under parts mostly black. 



The pattern is most typically developed in southwestern New 

 Mexico and northern Chihauhua. Specimens from this region 

 may be described as follows: Head, from between the eyes to about 

 a dozen dorsal scales beliind the parietals, black; neck and throat 

 black, except for a white spot, more or less developed, lengthwise 

 of each of the labial and chin shields and anterior gulars, and a 

 median light band on the anterior ventrals. On the frontal plate 

 two narrow transverse white spots anteriorly. On each prefrontal 

 and internasal, anteriorly, a similar white transverse band. Rostral 

 black at center and along posterior border. Nasals, loreals, pre- 

 oculars, and sometimes oculars with a central development of white. 

 Belly and caudals mostly black, with a development of white 

 on the ends of each alternate ventral plate and sometimes a median 

 wliite spot on ventrals that alternate with those bearing lateral 

 spots. Dorsal scales each with an oval white center, oriented length- 

 wise of the scale. These white centers occupy the most of the 

 scale on the first row and decrease in size dorsally, leaving three or 

 four rows of middorsal scales entirely black, except where the white 

 centers are continued across the back to form transverse white 

 bands, from two to four scales apart, throughout the length of the 

 bod3^ In distinction from holhrooTci the orientation of most of the 

 white centers of the cross bands is lengthwise of the scales and the 

 spaces between the bands are entirely unspotted, except rarely those 

 close behind the neck. 



The penial characters as indicated by specimens from New Mexico 

 are as follows: distinctly bilobed; sulcus single, extending over the 

 side of the larger lobe, and ending in a small bare space, surrounded 

 by a few calyces; the latter extending far enough beyond the end of 

 the organ to be very evident in a lateral view; calyces with five to 

 ten fringes, which may be conspicuous or very short; latter passing 

 into spines which increase gradually in size to about one-third the 

 distance from the apex, here being replaced rather suddenly by a few 

 minute spines; remainder of organ smooth. 



The dentition, as derived from examination of a few specimens, 

 is as follows: Maxillary teeth, 12 to 14, subequal, the last two scarcely 

 stouter; mandibulars, 15, third to sixth largest, decreasing posteriorly, 

 the last very small; palatines, 9, subequal, but slightly smaller than 

 the maxillaries; pterygoids, 15 to 19, subequal, smaller than the 

 palatines, decreasing a little in size posteriorly. 



To distinguish splendida from Jiolhrooki and from yumensis, see 

 under these respective forms. 

 186550— 21— Bull. 114 3 



