28 



BULLETIN 114, U:N"ITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Habitat and JiaUts. — ^The o^ly reference that we have been able to 

 find concerning the natural history of this form is by Van Denburgh 

 (1897, 347): "Two specimens of this handsome snake were taken, 

 one of which was 'shot in a tree in a river bottom near Fort Lowell 

 (Tucson, Ariz.) May 28, 1893.'" 



Range. — ^The range of splendida extends east to about the 97th 

 meridian; northward to southern Oklahoma, and west as far as 

 Tucson. It is probable that it will be found of general distribution 

 in northern Mexico, although the only definite record for south of the 

 international boundary is for San Diego, Chihuahua. In New 



Fig. 8. — Map showing locality eecoeds fob Lampeopeltis getulus splendida. 



Mexico it doubtless extends considerably north of Fort Fillmore, 

 which is now the most northern record for that state. 



The only published record for a locality not included in the list of 

 specimens examined is one for Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas 

 (Baird and Girard, 1853, 159). This specimen is listed as a variety 

 of OpJiibolus sayi, but as it occurs well within the rafige of splendida^ 

 it is undoubtedly this species. 



Variation. — Throughout the central portion of its range splendida 

 is a distinct and well-defined form, but at its east and west limits it 

 intergrades with holirooJci and yumensis, respectively. Only 23 

 specimens have been examined from the entire range, but these are 



