REPTILES OF LAKE SUPERIOR. 381 



CROTOPHORUS. 

 PI. VI., figs. 6 to 8. 



I abstain from giving a specific name to this species, from fear of 

 adding a useless synonym to its nomenclature. It is, indeed, very 

 closely allied to, and probably identical with 0. tergeminus. Its 

 head, however, is rather elliptical than triangular, and the spots 

 which cover it differ, as may be seen on comparing our figure with 

 that of Dr. Holbrook.* The snout is truncate. Having no authentic 

 specimen of 0. tergeminus to compare with mine, I shall only point 

 out the differences I have noticed between my specimen and the de- 

 scription and figure of Dr. Holbrook, leaving it to future comparisons 

 to settle the question of the specific identity or difference. 



The general color is the same as that of 0. tergeminus, but the 

 two brown bands which exist along the neck on each side, and con- 

 verge upon the back, are shorter. The bands of the same color, which 

 arise from the eyes, extend beyond the angle of the mouth, and 

 nearly meet the other bands, where they unite with the first spot on 

 the back. The width of these bands covers three rows of scales. 

 The white band below this is much narrower, and covers but one 

 single row of scales, and is bent at the angle of the mouth. Along 

 the back there are thirty oblong transverse spots, deeply emarginate 

 on the anterior side, and slightly concave on the posterior side back- 

 wards. They appear like a pair of spots united. Upon the tail 

 there are five quadrangular, oblong, transverse spots, in advance of 

 the caudal plates. Upon the sides there is a double row of smaller 

 spots, of an oblong or subcircular form, varying in size, and alternat- 

 ing with each other, while in C. tergeminus there is only one small 

 lateral row. The lower surface of the body is mottled with black and 

 white, with very minute gray dots. There are one hundred and 

 thirty abdominal plates, apparently broader than those of C. tergemi- 

 nus ; and, in addition, in advance of the anus, they are of a semicir- 

 cular form. The caudal plates are twenty-eight in number, twenty- 

 five of which are entire, and three, in advance of the rattle, bilobed. 



* North American Herpetology, TO!. III., PI. 5. 



