GEOPHIS. 93 
10. Geophis mutitorques. 
Rhabdosoma mutitorques, Cope, Proc. Am. Phil. Soc. xxii. p. 384 (1885). 
Hab. Mexico, North-eastern Hidalgo, Zacualtipan (Cope). 
Anterior frontals one-fourth the size of posterior. Vertical broader than long; 
supraocular present, but small; one postocular. Eye small. Six upper labials, the 
third and fourth entering the orbit, the fifth not in contact with the occipital. 
Temporals 142. The first pair of lower labials in contact with each other. Scales 
smooth, in seventeen rows. Ventrals 172; anal entire. Colour plum-brown, the 
scales of three or four lateral rows slightly pale on the edges. In old specimens the 
ventrals are similarly coloured with pale edges, but in younger specimens there are 
at intervals pale spots, and the throat and chin are pale, probably pale yellow in life. 
In young specimens a yellow band crosses from one angle of the mouth to the other, 
involving the anterior three-quarters of the parietal plates. In larger specimens this 
is indistinct, and in a large specimen (455 millim.) the band has disappeared. 
Cope describes also a Rhabdosoma longiceps, from San José Acateno in the State of 
Vera Cruz [Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus. ix. p. 189 (1887)], which seems to be very closely 
allied to the above species, as stated by the author himself. 
Geophis latifrontalis, Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. viii. no. 3, p. 103 (1883), from 
San Luis Potosi, cannot be distinguished from the above species by means of the 
descriptions given. 
11. Geophis fasciata. (Tab. XXXIV. fig. A.) 
Virginia fasciata, Fisch. Jahrb. Hamb. Wiss. Anst. i. p. 95 (1885). 
Hab. GuateMata (Sarg). 
Head broad, short, and depressed, distinct from neck; body and tail of moderate 
length. Eye rather small, with elliptical pupil. Anterior frontals well developed. 
one-fifth the size of posterior. Vertical longer than broad, five-sided, with the lateral 
edges long and nearly parallel. Supraocular large; a small separate preeocular above 
the preocular proper; two postoculars. Six upper labials, the third and fourth 
entering the orbit, the fifth being the largest, and separated from the occipital by a 
large temporal which is in contact with both postoculars. Temporals 1+2. The 
first pair of lower labials form a suture together ; anterior chin-shields nearly twice the 
size of posterior. Scales in seventeen rows, of which the dorsal are keeled. Ventrals 
184-196, anal entire, subcaudals 51-56. Upper parts brownish grey, with numerous 
black cross-bands, which are broadest on the back and narrow on the sides, and some- 
times encroach upon the ventral shields; head black above, lower parts white with 
some isolated black spots on the posterior parts of the abdomen, which become more 
numerous on the subcaudals. 
The description is taken from one of the two types now in the British Museum. 
