REVISIOI^r OF THE KING SNAKES. 



97 



more northern specimens is a variable mixture of the patterns of 

 hoylii and typical californiae. Frequently complete rings occur 'for 

 a short distance behind the head and on the tail; more often these 

 rings are continuous on the scales only; more commonly still they 

 are reduced to short dorsal transverse bars. All stages occur be- 

 tween the latter and irregular or elongate middorsal blotches, short 

 roimded spots, short and interrupted stripes, long and somewhat 



/2.0 



US 



1 2a 



t(^ 



Fig. 23.— Map showing locality records for Lampropeltis californiae californiae. 



irregular stripes, and the continuous smooth stripe symmetrically 

 placed on the middorsal line. Even in the last and most perfect 

 case there is generally an enlargement at the anterior end of the 

 stripe, not infrequently detached from the rest, which is obviously the 

 homologue of the first complete ring of hoylii. Most of the north- 

 em specimens have the underparts a uniform brown, although here 

 too the ventral pattern of hoylii may often be observed. Along 



