SPILOTES.—ZAMENIS. 119 
the black is reduced to the margin of the scale. On the posterior third of the body 
the yellow spots of some of the dorsal series, instead of being at the base of the scale, 
occupy the inner or outer half, thus leading to the formation of two black dorsal 
bands. ‘Tail black, with four bands of yellow spots, each band composed of two series 
of spots; one band runs along the median line of the back of the tail, one along 
the meeting edges of the subcaudals, and one along each side. ‘The scutes of the head 
are symmetrically spotted with yellow. Lower parts of the body yellow, the anterior 
ventral shields showing a blackish margin; this margin becomes gradually broader 
behind, the last shields being almost entirely black. 
Our specimen is 56 inches long, the tail measuring 17 inches. 
It differs in some respects from the one described by Bocourt. It has ten upper 
labial shields, of which the fifth, sixth, and seventh enter the orbit. ‘The dorsal scales 
are also much more faintly keeled. The two black dorsal bands make their appearance 
only in the posterior third of the length of the body; and on the tail the yellow spots 
are arranged in four well-defined series, one running along the median line of the back, 
one on each side, and one along the middle of the lower surface. The coloration 
reminds one of that of Coronella sayt. 
5, Spilotes chrysobronchus. 
Spilotes chrysobronchus, Cope, Journ. Ac. N. Sc. Phil. viii. p. 136, t. 28. fig. 11 (head) (1875). 
Spilotes chrysobranchus, Bocourt, Miss. Sc. Mex., Rept. p. 695, t. 48. figg. 9, 9 a (cop. from Cope). 
Hab. Costa Rica (Cope). 
Perhaps identical with 8. fasciatus, Peters. 
ZAMENIS. 
Zamenis, Wagler, Nat. Syst. Amphib. p. 188 (1830). 
1. Zamenis constrictor. 
Coluber constrictor, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 12, i. 1, p. 385. 
Bascanion constrictor, Baird & Girard, Cat. N. Amer. Rept. p. 93; Bocourt, Miss. Sc. Mex., 
Rept. p. 697, t. 48. fig. 5. 
Coryphodon constrictor (part.), Dum. & Bibr. Erpét. vii. p. 183. 
Zamenis constrictor, Boulenger, Cat. Sn. i. p. 387. 
Coluber flaviventris, Say, in Long’s Exped. Rock. Mount. ii. p. 185. 
Bascanion flaviventris, Baird & Girard, Cat. N. Amer. Rept. p. 96 ; Bocourt, Miss. Sc. Mex., 
Rept. p. 697, t. 48. fig. 3, 3.4, b. 
_ Hab. Nortu America, United States.— Mexico (Mus. Brit.). 
This species seems to be scarce in Northern Mexico, and the black variety does not 
extend even so far southwards. 
