NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 565 



217. C. h e 1 e n a Giinther. Coluber Helena Daud., 1802. Cynophis bistrigatu 

 Gray, 1. c, 1849. 



Our single specimen differs slightly from descriptions in the arrangement of 

 the colors upon the upper surface of the body. Hence we append the following 

 notes. 



Scales small, entirely smooth, in twenty-seven longitudinal series. Tail two- 

 ninths the entire length. Head slightly distinct, acute. Rostral plate rather 

 prominent, as high as broad, visible from above. Two small supplemental 

 plates between it and the prefrontals : the latter as long as broad. Postfrontals 

 longer than broad ; superciliaries narrow ; vertical rather broad anteriorly, 

 elongate, the lateral borders straight, and so convergent as to render it almost 

 trilateral. Occipitals elongate truncate posteriorly, two elongate temporals 

 bound the external border. Nasals two, large, nostrils between; loreal longer 

 than high, the posterior border curved oblique. Preocular large, reaching the 

 vertical, rugulose ; postoculars two. Superior labials ten, eye resting on the 

 fifth, sixth and seventh ; eighth longer than high, ninth higher than long, both 

 bounded above by an elongate temporal. Inferior labials twelve, seventh 

 largest; pregeneials longer than postgeneials. Postabdominal scute entire. 

 Gastrosteges 223, a little recurved upon the sides ; urosteges 88 pair. Totaj 

 length, 29 in. 3 1., of tail 6 in. 6 I. 



Coloration. Under surface light yellow, with a few black specks upon the 

 extremities of the scales anteriorly. Above a delicate fawn brown, the two 

 inferior rows of scales paler. Anterior to the middle of the body, the scales 

 of the rows between the third and tenth assume a darker shade ; this becomes 

 a distinct lateral band posteriorly, and extends to the extremity of the tail. 

 On the anterior third of the body, the skin, upon being stretched, exhibits the 

 following pattern. Pale trigonal areas, alternating and extending from the me- 

 dian line to the ninth row of scales upon each side. A series of small light spots 

 upon the eighth row alternates with these. Lower down, opposite to the first, 

 are diamond shaped pale areas, and a second row of larger alternating spots 

 upon the second, third and fourth rows of scales. The spots of this and of 

 the upper series become larger anteriorly, and are bordered above and below 

 with black ; the pale areas become obsolete. There are two parallel black 

 lines upon the neck ; one oblique, upon each side of the neck ; one extending 

 from the eye to the mouth, upon the upper border of the eighth superior labial, 

 and an obscure one upon the common suture of the occipitals. 

 One sp. Ceylon, Mr. Cuming in ex. 



Elaphe Fitzinger. Type E. ?sauromates. 



In Wagler's Icones Amphibiorum, 1833, pi. 27. Syst. Rept., 1843, p. 26. 

 Elaphis Gthr. Catal., 1858, p. 92, nee Dum. & Bibr., 1854. 



218. E. quaterradiatus. Tropidonotus elaphis Wagl. Natrix elaphis 

 Bonap. Elaphis quaterradiatus Dum. & Bib. 



Six sp. Italy, Dr. Wilson. (Bp. Coll.) 



219. E. taeniurus nobis. 



As in many other serpents of Eastern Asia, the maxillary and mandibular 

 teeth become gradually longer anteriorly. Head slightly distinct, lanceolate, 

 muzzle obtuse. Tail one-fifth the total length, flat beneath. Twenty-five 

 rows of scales, those from the ninth to the sixteenth keeled. Rostral plate 

 broader than high, the labial suture one-third the nasal, less than the pre- 

 frontal. Eight superior labials, fourth and fifth bounding the orbit. Seventh 

 much longer than high, bounded above by a long temporal, and by a short 

 one, which also bounds the eighth labial. Postoculars two, superior largest. 

 Preoculars two, as in other species of the genus, the superior very large, its 

 horizontal diameter greater than the length of the Toreal. The latter plate 

 much longer than high. Postfrontals large, bent upon the sides. Anterior 



I860.] 39 



