78 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



Rhabdosoma D. & B. Type R. s e m i d o M a t u m. 

 Erpet. Gen. vii. 90. 



75. R. semidoliatum Z). ^-5. 



Two specimens, Mexico, ? 



Six " Jalapa, Mexico, Sr. R. M. De Oca. 



One " (young) " " Mr. Pease. 



This species appears to be very common in central Mexico. The spaces 

 between the black spots on the dorsal region, described by authors as white, 

 are in life of a beautiful vermillion color. 



76. R. fuliginosum nobis. Coluber fuliginosus Hallowell, Proc. Acad. 

 Nat. Sci. ii. p. 243, 1845. ? Isoscelis et Rhabdosoma maculatum Giinther, Cat. 

 Brit. Mus. 204, 241, 1858. 



Six superior maxillary teeth on each side in a continuous series, the ante- 

 rior longer than the posterior, but not longer than the middle two. Seven in- 

 ferior maxillaries on each side regularly increasing in length anteriorly. This 

 peculiar dentition induced us to consider this serpent a Lycodont, but sub- 

 sequent examination and comparison with Dr. Giinther's description of his 

 Rhabdosoma maculatum has persuaded us that the two species are 

 very similar, possibly identical. The most material difference is, that the 

 ma cu latum has seven superior labial plates, the fuliginosum six. Of 

 those of the latter, the third is elongated, and with the fourth entering the or- 

 bit. Geneials one pair; vertical broader in front than its greatest length. 

 Postoculars two, temporals three ; loreal long and narrow. Color reddish 

 brown, a darker shade crossing each occipital obliquely and uniting behind 

 them into a dorsal hand, which is soon broken into spots. These are obsolete 

 on the middle and hinder part of the body. No lateral series of spots. Belly 

 immaculate. See Hallowell 1. c. 

 One specimen, Near Caraccas, Dr. S. A. Ashmead. 



77. R. torquatum D. Sf B. vii. p. 101. " Brachyorrhos torquatus H. 

 Boie, Erpet. de Java." 



Superior labials eight, fourth and fifth coming into the orbit. One postocu- 

 lar ; one pair of geneials. The color of our specimen is a very deep brown, so 

 dark that the transverse series of black spots can only be seen in certain 

 lights. The opalescent play of colors is unusually beautiful on this account. 

 Beneath dark brown, posteriorly finely punctulated with darker. 

 One specimen, Surinam, Dr. Hering. 



78. R. c r a s s i c a u d a t u m D. $ B. vii. 103. 



Seventeen longitudinal rows of scales ; two postoculars ; seven superior la- 

 bials, third and fourth entering the orbit. In these important particulars our 

 specimen is similar to those of Dumeril, but the coloration is totally distinct. 

 Though much bleached by the alcohol, the animal was, probably, pale brown, 

 each scale tipped with darker, with a dorsal vitta of the same extending from 

 the occipitals to the end of the tail. Beneath yellow, immaculate. 

 One specimen, Surinam, Dr. Hering. 



Cakphophiops Gervais. Type C. amoena. 



Diet. Nat. Hist. Univers. (dir. par M. C. D'Orbigny,) iii. p. 191, 1843. Car- 

 phophis Dumeril, Prodrome de la class, des Rept. Ophidiens, pp. 43 et 46, 1852. 

 Erp Gen. vii. p. 131, 1854. Giinther 1. c. 17, 1858. Not of Gervais 1. c. 191, 

 1843. Celuta B. & G., Cat. Serp. 129, 1853. 



This genus is characterized by Gervais as cited, who refers to Dumeril and 

 Bibron ; but we cannot find it published by the latter prior to 1852. Carpho- 

 phis Gerv. has the characters of Calamaria Boie, and hence cannot be applied 

 to the Coluber a m o e n u s Say. 



[Feb. 



