At that time, he called it Coronella sayi under the mistaken impression that it was the species previously described by Schlegel as Coluber sayi. In 1902, Stejneger pointed out that because Coluber sayi is a different snake, Pituophis catenifer sayi, the name sayi could not be applied to this snake.
At that time, he referred to it as Coronella sayi under a mistaken belief that it was the species previously identified by Schlegel as Coluber sayi. In 1902, Stejneger noted that since Coluber sayi is a distinct snake, Pituophis catenifer sayi, the name sayi could not be used for this snake.