NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 241 



Catalogue of the Colubridae in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 of Philadelphia, with notes and descriptions of new species. Part 2. 



BY E. D. COPE. 



CORONELLWJE. 

 Toluca Kennicott. Type T. lineata. 



U. S. and Mex. Boundary Survey, ii. pt. 2, Reptiles, p. 23, 1859. 



Toluca differs from Aniblymetopon Gthr. in possessing two pairs of frontal 

 plates instead of one, and the nasal and first upper labial are not confluent. 

 Gyalopion nobis has two pairs of frontals, but the rostral is recurved and 

 acute, and the first labial is confluent with the nasal. The contact of the post- 

 frontals. the want of anterior prolongation of the vertical, the concavity of the 

 rostral, and presence of anterior frontals, distinguish the latter from Aniblyme- 

 topon. In these genera the teeth are smooth, of equal lengths and a little 

 stouter posteriorly. In Arrhyton* Gthr. (Cat. Brit. Mus. p. 244) the posterior 

 upper maxillary is longer, and separated from the anterior by an interspace, 

 (diacranterian.) These genera possess a strong resemblance to the Calama- 

 rian type of form where some of them have been placed by authors but we 

 believe them to be more nearly allied to the Stenorhina, Rhinostoma and Cemo- 

 phora, which are not to be separated from the Coronelliform genera Simotes, 

 Lampropeltis, etc. Indeed, comparison with such typical Calamarian forms as 

 Calamaria, Aspidura, Rhabdosoma, Carphophiops, etc., shows a less complete 

 want of distinction of head and body, a less degree of rigidity of the latter, 

 and a greater resemblance to the higher types in the forms of the superciliary 

 and labial plates. We do not think their small size at all conclusive as to their 

 pertinence to the Calamarinae, though an opposite opinion might be held by 

 such herpetologists as would place the Old World " Ablabes," the Diadophis 

 and Tamiophis of the New in that group. 



Allied to Toluca and Cemophora nobis, is a genus inhabiting the south- 

 western regions of the United States, called Lamprosoma by Dr. Hallowell, 

 (Proceed. Acad. N. S. viii. p. 311.) As this name was previously employed by 

 Kirby for a genus of Coleoptera, we propose replacing it here by Chionactis, 

 given in allusion to the refulgent whiteness of the scales. The typical and 

 only well-ascertained species is Rhinostoma occipitale Hallow., (Proc. 

 Acad. vii. 1854, p. 95.) This serpent has been erroneously stated by Dr. Giin- 

 ther, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 387, to be a native of West Africa. The muzzle is more 

 depressed than in Toluca, and there is a loreal plate. The equal teeth, single 

 nasal and more depressed head and snout, separate it from Cemophora. 



83. T. 1 i n e a t a, Kenn. 1. c. U. S. Pac. R. R. Rept. ix. Reptiles, fig. 35, pi. 8. 

 One sp. Toluca Valley, Mexico. Smithsonian Inst. 



Pabiaspis nobis. Type P. plumbeatra. 



Body cylindrical ; tail one-eighth of total length. Head scarcely distinct, 

 broad and swollen at the temples, in front very short and depressed. Superior 

 maxillary bone short, its teeth gradually increasing in length posteriorly, none 

 grooved. Pupil round. Top of head covered with the ordinary nine plates, 

 the frontals relatively small, occipitals large. Two nasals, the nostril in the 



* Arryton t s n i a turn Gthr. 1. c. 



The adult of this species measures 16 in. 10 1. in length; the tail 3 in. 7 lines. The 

 color of the lower surface is brownish yellow, and extends upon the third row of scales. 

 Above dark brown, with three indistinct longitudinal lines, as in Gunther's description. 

 These notes are taken from a specimen belonging to the Museum at Cambridge, Mass. 



I860.] 



