104 OPHIDIA. 
CONTIA*. 
Contia, Baird & Girard, N.-Amer. Snak. p. 110 (1853). 
1. Contia episcopa. 
Lamprosoma episcopum, Kennicott, U. S. & Mex. Bound. Survey, 1859, p. 22, t. 8. fig. 2 (bad). 
Contia episcopa, Cope, Proc. Ac. N. Sc. Phil. xii. p. 251 (1861). 
Homalosoma episcopum, Jan, Iconogr. Ophid. xiii. t. 4. fig. 2. 
Hab. Norra America, Texas.—Mextico, Nuevo Leon (W. Taylor). 
2. Contia calligaster. 
Contia calligaster, Cope, Journ. Ac. N. Sc. Phil. viii. p. 146 (1875). 
Hab. Costa Rica, Pico Blanco. 
3. Contia pachyura. 
Contia pachyura, Cope, Journ. Ac. N. Sc. Phil. viii. p. 145 (1875). 
Hab. Costa Rica, Sipurio. 
I have not seen a specimen of this or of the preceding species. 
ABLABES. 
Ablabes, sp., Dum. & Bibr. Erpét. vu. p. 804 (1854). 
Trimetopon, Cope, Proc. Am. Phil. Soc. 1884, p. 177. 
1. Ablabes gracilis. 
Ablabes gracilis, Giinth. Ann. & Mag, N. H. 1872, ix. p. 18, t. 3. fig. D. 
Hab. Costa Rica, elevated country near Cartago. 
Body and tail slender, subcylindrical ; head narrow, not distinct from neck. A pair 
of narrow anterior frontals; posterior frontals confluent into one large shield. Rostral 
rounded. Nostrils small, between two nasals. One loreal; one anteocular and one 
postocular. Eye small. Scales smooth, with a single apical groove, in fifteen series. 
Anal and subcaudals double. The posterior maxillary teeth become gradually larger 
and are smooth. Rostral shield very broad and low; anterior frontals narrow, nearly 
the entire upper surface of the snout being occupied by the single posterior frontal. 
Vertical broad and long, five-sided, with the posterior angle produced and pointed ; 
occipitals as long as the vertical and posterior frontal together; nasal shields small ; 
loreal longer than deep; preocular narrow, not extending to the upper surface of the 
snout. Seven upper labials, the third and fourth entering the orbit. Temporals 
* Contia michoacanensis (Cope, Proc. Am. Phil. Soc. xxii. p. 178) has been found by Boulenger to be an 
Opisthoglyph, and therefore will be inserted subsequently under the genus Homalocranium. It is figured on 
Tab. XXXVI. figg. B & C. 
