NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 249 



color, and the narrow light band on the upper borders of the labials, is suggest- 

 ive of certain genera of venomous snakes, as Hypnale. The lateral borders 

 of the vertical plate in fissidens are not so long nor so nearly parallel as 

 in punctigularis. The whole head is relatively narrower. The colors 

 of the former are deeper, the longitudinal bands being very indistinct. The 

 throat is not so thickly punctulated.* 



T-ENioPHis Girard. Type T. tantillus. 

 U. S. Astronomical Expedition, ii. p. 215. 1855. 



105. T. vermiculaticeps nobis. Size small; form slender; tail one- 

 third the total length. Head distinct, elongate ovoid ; the muzzle short and 

 the eye large and far forward. The last superior maxillary tooth is longer 

 than those preceding it, and smooth. As in the other species of the genus, 

 there are two postoculars, one preocular, and a divided postabdominal scu- 

 tella. Scales in seventeen longitudinal rows. Frontal plates small, super- 

 ciliaries and vertical elongate, the latter with its anterior border nearly straight, 

 the lateral slightly convergent. Nostril principally in the prenasal ; postnasal 

 higher. Loreal as high as long ; preocular narrow and high, not reaching the 

 vertical. Superior postocular twice as long as the inferior. Superior labials 

 eight, fourth and fifth enteringthe orbit. Inferior labials ten. Geneials two 

 pair, the posterior one-third longer than the anterior, divaricating. Gastros- 

 teges 117, one anal, urosteges 79. Total length of the largest specimen 13 in. 

 8 lin. Tail 4 in. 7 lin. 



Coloration. The ground color of the upper surface of the body is a rich yel- 

 lowish brown where the epidermis is lost, of a brownish straw color. A pair 

 of deep brown bands begin, one at the externo-posterior angle of each super- 

 ciliary shield, and converge upon the neck. There each narrows to a width 

 of one scale, and enclosing a vitta of the ground color one scale in width, ex- 

 tends to the origin of the tail. Here they unite, and extend to the extremity 

 of that member as a median band. A second pair of brown bands commences 

 one at each nostril. It passes through the eye to beyond the angle of the 

 mouth, where its inferior border becomes ill denned, and continues so through- 

 out its whole length. The upper border is clearly defined to the end of the 

 tail. The medial light dorsal vitta bifurcates on the neck, and extends as far 

 as the superciliary plates. The intermediate space is irregularly vermiculated 

 with delicate marks of the same color. Upper and lower labials whitish, nar- 



* The following is the description of a third species of this genus, a single specimen of 

 which is in possession of ihe National Museum, Washington. It was discovered hy Sr. 

 R. M. De Oca in the vicinity of Jalapa, Mexico. 



C. proterops nobis. Size rather small. Scales in nineteen longitudinal rows, thin, 

 elongate, obtuse. Head scarcely distinct, short profile of muzzle not elevated. Anterior 

 plates of the head small ; loreal a little longer than high. One pre- two postoculars. 

 Superior labials seven, third and fourth entering the orbit. Vertical plate elongate, late- 

 ral borders convergent, posterior angle acute. Occipitals long. Inferior labials nine ; 

 geneials two pairs, nearly equal. Gastrosteges 130, anal one, divided, urosteges ? (tail 

 badly mutilated.) Head and body 9 in. 7 lin. in length. The stump of the tail appears 

 tetragonal in section. 



Coloration. Above light brown, every scale densely punctulated with darker, especially 

 near the margins. From the first to the fourth row of scales this is deeper, giving the 

 sides a darker shade. The vertebral row of scales, from the occipitals to the end of the 

 tail is also darker. Top of the head densely and obscurely vermiculated and punctulated. 

 The dark shade on the fourth row of scales becomes a band anteriorly, and is bordered 

 above and below with white on the neck. The lower white border is continued to the 

 eye, and is bordered above on the labials with black. The upper white border is discon- 

 tinued on the neck, but reappears as a spot, three scales back of the occipitals. Inferior 

 half of rostral, upper and lower labials, chin, throat and belly, light brownish yellow, 

 densely punctulated with brown. Each labial with a darker spot in the centre. Fewer 

 punctulations on the urosteges. 



I860.] 16 



