R. E. Call — Serpent from Iowa. 299 



there is a much broader lateral stripe, extending from the 

 labials, which are included, to the vent, whence, to tip of tail, 

 the color is uniform chocolate-brown. This lateral stripe is 

 one and one-half scales broad. The base of each of the lower- 

 most dorsal scales is black, which color, however, is subepider- 

 mal. The head is inconspicuously mottled with small, irregu- 

 lar, black spots, but the general color is light-brown. The base 

 of each alternate scale, in the fifth dorsal row, is black, causing 

 a peculiar spotted, linear, appearance. The belly is white, with 

 a double row of deep black spots, largest on the middle where, 

 also they are confluent, but entirely wanting on the first two 

 gasterosteges ; elsewhere they are present to the end of the 

 tail, but do not at any point reach the edge of the ventral 

 plates. 



Of the specimens mentioned in the following table, in which 

 are given all measurements that are thought to be useful, the 

 two first specimens were taken at Ames, Story County, Iowa, 

 the two remaining ones, at Des Moines ; both localities are near 

 the very center of the State. 



1. 2. 3. 4. 



Gasterosteges 146 148 143 145 



Scales, rovvs 19 19 19 19 



Subcaudals, pairs 31 29 18* 35 



Length, in inches 14 12'5 8'625* 10*875 



Tail, in inches 1-625 1'375 * 1-375 



Tail, times in length 8*61 + 9*09 * 7*89 + 



Eye, in head __.. 5 5'5 4*5 5*25 



Anal plate entire entire entire entire 



From typical T. lineatum this variety differs in the num- 

 ber of rows of dorsal scales, in the larger eye, greater size, con- 

 stant lighter color, in the characters of the markings of the 

 gasterosteges, in the shape, size and grooving of the nasals, and 

 in the number and arrangement of the gulars. In other 

 respects it is closely like the type of Hallowell's form. 



Of the specimens which have come under notice, and which 

 have been used in drawing up this description, two may be 

 seen in the museum of the Iowa Agricultural College, at Ames, 

 Iowa ; one in the collections of the Indiana University, Bloom- 

 ington, and one in the West High School, Des Moines, Iowa. 

 As above noted the distribution is thus far restricted to central 

 Iowa. 



Des Moines, Iowa, January 5th, 1891. 

 * This specimen was pathologic, having lost the greater portion of the tail. 



