76 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF 



to the Amphisbsenidae, and may be diagnosed as follows : Dentition pleuro- 

 dont ; muzzle conic, acute ; nostrils lateral, each in a single plate, which is 

 separated from that of the opposite side by a backward prolongation of the 

 rostral. Two elongate rostro-frontals, in contact with the rostral anteriorly. 

 Eye visible beneath the ocular shield. Preanal pores present. 



D. fenestra tus Cope had been discovered in the West Indian Islands 

 of St. Thomas and Santa Cruz, by Mr. A. H. Ruse, of the former. The largest 

 specimen obtained measured nine inches and six lines in length. The species is 

 of cylindrical form. The dermal rings are uninterrupted, divided into squares 

 above, more broadly segmented on the abdomen ; caudal whorls twelve. 

 Three upper labial plates, second much the longest, and in contact with fronto- 

 rostral. Ocular trapezoid, anteriorly acute. Two or three temporals, two 

 cuneiform frontals. One small symphyseal, and one large geneial, both of 

 them but little longer than broad. Three inferior labials, third twice the size 

 of the first, one -fourth the size of the second. Color pale brownish white, 

 each dermal segment marked with a small rectangular brown spot. The ani- 

 mal differs from Typhloblanus c a ecu s Fitz., in the separation of the nasal 

 plates, from Cadea punctata Gray, in the double rostro-frontal, and from 

 both in the distinctness of the eyes. 



Amphisbama angustifronsis allied to A. Pretrei and A. v e r m i - 

 c u 1 a r i s , but has a much shorter tail than either, beside other characteristic 

 peculiarities. The form of the muzzle is quite similar to that of the species 

 above described, being compressed conic. Rostral plate triangular, its apex 

 only visible from above, separated from the rostro-frontals by the united 

 nasals, as in the other species of the restricted genus. Rostro-frontals rather 

 broad, the anterior outline curved, the posterior more curved. Thus the 

 frontal pair, whose posterior border is also curved, exhibit an almost circular 

 outline. A trapezoid ocular, bordered above by the rostro-frontal, posteriorly 

 by a large temporal. Three upper labials, commisural border of the first 

 longer than that of the others. Its supero-anterior border continuous with 

 that of the second, its posterior with that of the nasal. One subtriangular 

 symphyseal ; one large gemmiform, geneial ; its anterior angle truncate ; three 

 inferior labials, second much the largest, bounded beneath by a subtriangular 

 mento-labial ; third labial small, elongate. Five superior maxillary teeth on 

 each side, seven intermaxillaries (medial longest,) sixteen mandibulars. Four 

 preanal pores ; vent curved, bordered by ten narrow preanal plates. Caudal 

 rings fifteen or sixteen. A specimen in the Academy Museum was brought 

 from Buenos Ayres, by Dr. Kennedy. 



Loxocemus Cope is a very remarkable genus of peropodous Ophidians, ex- 

 hibiting several points of resemblance to the Calamarians, such as its 

 cylindrical body, short tail, small eye, and narrow, conic head. The rostral 

 plate finds a parallel in that of Rhinocheilus Bd. and Grd. and Arizona Kenn. 

 also less closely in Stenorhina Diem. There is also a striking resemblance in 

 the form of the head and pupil of the eye to Olisthenes Cope, (Scytale Boie, 

 nee Merr., Pteudoboa Cope, nee Schneid.) O. Neuwiedii is quite similar 

 in its style of coloration to L. b i c o 1 o r. Without acquaintance with other 

 allied genera, it is difficult to decide as to whether Loxocemus should enter the 

 Boinae, or be regarded as the type of a new subfamily of aglyphodont eury- 

 stomatous serpents. Its diagnosis will be as follows : Body stout, cylindrical ; 

 tail short, urosteges two-rowed. Anal spurs small ; metatarsal and tarsal 

 bones large, tibia elongate curved, compressed and expanded at the distal 

 extremity. Preanal plate bifid ; gastrosteges narrow ; scales smootb. Head 

 small, indistinct, superiorly plane. Muzzle prominent, obliquely truncate. 

 Rostral plate large, transverse, slightly elevated, encroaching on the pre- 

 frontals. Two pairs of frontals, the anterior very transverse, the posterior 

 not completely separated from the large loreal. An elongate polygonal verti- 

 cal. One small superciliary on each side, a narrow lateral occipital, and a 



[April, 



