NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 557 



opinion, justify its separation from the next succeeding species. This is inte- 

 resting when we recollect that the Dryophis of the same region is congeneric 

 with the South American form, and not with that inhabiting the East Indies ; 

 a fact pointed out by Dr. Gunther, in his paper on the geographical distribution 

 of reptiles. 

 Two sp. Gaboon, West Afr. Dr. H. A. Ford. 



179. T. ahaetulla nobis. Coluber ahaetulla Linn. Col. liocercus Neuw. Leptop- 

 hisahaetulla Bell. Dendrophis ahaetullaFitz. Boie. Dendrophis liocercus, Schleg. 

 Leptophis liocercus D. & B. Ahaetulla liocercus et Linnaei Gray, 1830. Gthr. 

 Two sp. Surinam, Dr. Colhoun. 

 One sp. Brazil, ? 



One sp. loc ignot. ? 



180. T. Mexicanus nobis. Leptophis Mexicanus D. & B. Ahaetulla Mexicana 

 Gunther. 



One sp. Omoa, Honduras, Dr. J. L. Le Conte. 



Two sp. loc. ignot. Mr. Cuming in ex. 



181. T. occidentalis nobis. Ahaetulla occidentalism Gunther, Proc. Zool. 

 Soc, 1859, p. 



One sp. Isth. Panama, Dr. J. L. Le Conte. 



One sp. ? Mr. Cuming in ex. 



?Var. In a third specimen, locality unknown, an additional superior labial 

 shield, and a postnasal longer than high, are the indices of greater elongation 

 of the prefrontal, nasal and intermaxillary bones. In every other respect 

 similar to the above. The proportions of body and color prevent its reference 

 to T. ahaetulla. We await additional specimens before forming an opinion 

 respecting it. 



Philothamnus Smith. Type P. semivariegatus. 

 Zool. South Africa, pi. 59, 1849. , 



182. P. natal en sis Smith 1. c. pi. 64. 



We are not convinced of the identity of this species with P. Chenonii 

 {Leptophis Chenonii D. & B.) Dr. Leach's diagnosis of his Coluber irregu- 

 laris in the appendix to Bowditch's Ashantee, will probably apply equally 

 well to several species ; hence, we cannot adopt his name without more evidence 

 than has been offered. 

 One sp. Africa. Mr. Cuming, in ex. 



In this specimen the tail is rather longer in proportion to the body, than Dr. 

 Smith describes. The length of the former is thirteen inches ; of the latter, 

 nineteen. 



183. P. depressirostris nobis. 



Scales smooth, in fifteen rows, arranged as in T. Mexicanus, more 

 obliquely than in T. oc c i de n t al i s. Length of tail to total length, as 

 one and one-third to three. Muzzle elongate, depressed, truncate ; rostral 

 plate twice as broad as high. Postnasal longer than prenasal ; loreal 

 three times as long as high. One pre-, two postoculars. Nine superior 

 labials, fifth and sixth entering the orbit. Eye very large, oval. Occipitals 

 broad anteriorly, narrow and truncate posteriorly, about equal to the vertical 

 in length. Dentition as in T. ahaetulla. Anal plate divided. Total length 

 45 in. 6 1. 



Coloration. Above uniform deep green ; beneath and upon the lips light 

 green. An inconspicuous temple streak. A very delicate black line traverses 

 the centre of each of the two rows of scales that bound the vertebral row, 

 extending from the nape to the origin of the tail. 



Habitat. Cocuyas de Veraguas, New Granada; one specimen, presented to 

 the Academy by Mr. R. W. Mitchell. 



I860.] 



