no. 2078. REPTILES OF NORTHWESTERN NEVADA— RICHARDSON. 429 



Supralabials: 

 7-7 



7-8. 



Infralabials: 

 10-10... 



10-11 



Dorsal scales, 19-17. 

 Ventrals: 



Minimum 



Average 



Maximum 



Subcaudals: 



Minimum 



Average 



Maximum 



Total length: 



Minimum 



Average , 



Maximum 



Tail length: 



Minimum , 



Average 



Maximum 



Average ratio tail to total length 



Sex. 



Males. Females. 



168 

 12 

 169 

 170 



91 



il 



536 



il 



141 



il 



.263 



3 

 1 



4 



159 

 14 

 163.5 

 170 



75 

 12 

 75.5 

 76 



575 

 12 



612.5 

 650 



136 



12 



147.5 

 159 



12 



.240 



i Indicating the number of specimens from which the average was taken. 



The color pattern of these specimens is quite typical. The dorsal 

 spots are fused and the red interspaces are restricted to areas on the 

 skin about the length of one scale. The red pigment often en- 

 croaches upon the edges of adjacent scales. These specimens closely 

 resemble many in the Stanford University collection from northern 

 California and western Oregon. 



Habits. — With one exception, parietalis was found near the margin 

 of streams. The one other individual was found on a road several 

 hundred feet from water. From our observations this species was 

 not nearly so abundant as ThamnopJiis ordinoidis elegans. 



THAMNOPHIS ORDINOIDIS ELEGANS (Baird and Girard). 



Locality. — Specimens of this form were collected at the following 

 localities in California: Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe (3); vicinity of 

 Tallac, Lake Tahoe (22); near Fallen Leaf Lake, Lake Tahoe (4); 

 (C. V. Burke collector) Glen Alpine, near Lake Tahoe (1). Also the 

 following in Nevada: Wadsworth(l); Pyramid Lake Indian Agency 

 (1); Winnemucca Lake, Washoe County (1); near Carson City (2); 

 vicinity of Palisade, Eureka County (11); Deeth, Elko County (1). 



This species has been observed before in the basin by previous 

 writers at Camps "10" and "12," Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and in 

 Humboldt County, Nevada, at Quinn River Crossing, Pine Forest 

 Mountains, Virgin Valley, and Thousand Creek Flat. 



Status and variation. — This fine series of specimens which reveals 

 considerable variation in squamation and color is unquestionably 



