19G APPENDIX F. REPTILES. 



IV. PITUOPHIS, Holbr. 



This genus, closely allied to Heterodon, is characterized by a promi- 

 nent snout, the rostral plate elevated and convex, without, however, being 

 recurved. There are two pairs of postfrontal plates instead of one, and 

 occasionally also two verticals; three or four postorbitals ; generally two 7 

 sometimes only one anteriorly. The scales are carinated along the 

 back, smooth on the sides, and constituting from 29-35 dorsal rows. 

 The preanal or postabdominal scutellseis entire. 



The ground-colors are either whitish or reddish yellow, with a triple 

 series of patches, those of the medial series the largest, and several 

 series of smaller blotches on the sides. Abdomen unicolor or spotted,, 

 with an outer row of blotches. Head of same color as the body, macu- 

 lated with black spots. A narrow band of black across the upper sur- 

 face between the eyes, and a postocular vitta on each side, extending 

 obliquely from the eye down to the angle of the mouth. A black ver- 

 tical patch is often seen beneath the eye. 



The names of Bull, Pine, and Pilot snake are commonly given to 

 different species of this genus, which are all of great size, including in 

 fact some of the largest serpents of North America, Some of the 

 species utter a hissing or blowing sound. 



5. Pituophis McClellanii, B. & G. 



Zoology, PI. V. 



Spec. char. — Head subelliptical. Rostral plate very narrow. An- 

 teorbitals 2 ; postorbitals 4. Dorsal rows 33-35 ; the 1 outer rows 

 smooth. Tail forming 1-9 or 1-10 of total length. Postocular vitta 

 brown, and rather broad. Suborbital black, patch conspicuous ; com- 

 missure of labials black. Color of body reddish yellow, with a series of 

 53 blotches from head to origin of tail. Blotches of adjoining series, 

 on either side, confluent across the light spaces between medial blotches. 

 Flanks covered with small blotches, forming 3 or 4 indistinct series. 

 Twelve transverse jet-black bars across the tail. Abdomen yellowish, 

 thickly maculated with black patches. 



Svn. — Pituophis IfcCleUanii, B. & G. Cat. N. Arner. Rept. I, 1853, 

 68.— Pilot-snake. 



