250 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



rowly edged with brown. Chin and belly yellowish white, each gastrostege 

 with a deep brown dot at each end near the posterior border. 



This very elegant species was discovered in Veragua, New Grenada, by Mr. 

 R. W. Mitchell, who presented two specimens to the Academy. We also 

 possess a third specimen, native country unknown. It is nearly allied to 

 T. tantillus Girard, 1. c, but in that the vertical plate is narrower, the 

 sides subconcave, and in contact anteriorly with the preocular. The colora- 

 tion is also quite different. 



Diadophis Baird & Girard. Type D. punctatus. 

 Catalogue North Amer. Rept. in Smiths. Inst. 1852, p. 112. Spiletes (i. e. 

 Spilotes) "Wagler." Swainson, not Wagler. 



106. D. decoratus nobis. Coronella decorata Gthr. Cat. Brit. Mus. 

 p. 35. 



One of our specimens has two preocular plates, another three. In neither 

 do we find the upper maxillary teeth materially longer behind. Nevertheless, 

 our placing this serpent in Diadophis is altogether provisional ; in the unusual 

 length of tail, as well as in distribution of colors, it differs from this genus. 

 We will not give a detailed description at present, as the color of our speci- 

 mens has been altered by the loss of the epidermis. The four bright yellow 

 spots on the occiput and nape render this a very distinct as well as beautiful 

 species. 



One spec. Veragua, N. Grenada. Mr. R. W. Mitchell. 



One " ? ? ? 



107. D. occipitalis nobis. Ablabes occipitalis Giinther, Cat. Brit. Mus. 



p. 29, 



We have strong doubts of the validity of this species. Seven upper labial 

 shields are occasionally found in the punctatus, and the nuchal interrup- 

 tion of the yellow collar occurs in the pulchellus B. f G, We have, how- 

 ever, never seen a Diadophis with eight upper labials and an interrupted collar. 



We have two specimens corresponding with the occipitalis Gthr., one 

 the locality unknown, the other believed to have been obtained in central 

 Kansas. Presented by Mr. Henry Yarrow. 



108. D. punctatus Bd. $ Gird. Coluber punctatus Linn., Holbrook, etc. 

 Homalosoma punctatum Wagl. Spiletes punctatus Swains. Calamaria punctata 

 Schleg. Ablabes punctatus Dum., Bibr., Giinther, Hallowell. 

 Three spec. S. Carolina. Dr. Holbrook. 



One " Morris Co., N. Jersey, Dr. J. C. Fisher. 



One " Bucks Co., Penn. ? 



Two " ? Dr. Bache. 



One* " New Jersey. Mr. Tiffany. 



Four " ? Dr. Hallowell & Smiths. Inst. 



Onef " (young) Allegheny Co., Pa. Mr. D. C. Trout. 



Two " ? Br. T. B. Wilson. 



Five " (young) ? ? 



Var. pallidus nobis. In the number of rows of scales and labial plates and 

 collar, similar to punctatus ; but the color is a light olive brown, shaded 

 with bluish towards the gastrosteges, which it borders. There is no central 

 series of spots on the belly. 

 One spec. California. Dr. Heermann. 



Var. stictogenys nobis. This may possibly be specifically distinct from 

 the punctatus, but it is more probable that in a large suite of specimens 



* This specimen has but seven upper labials, eye resting on third and fourth, 

 t The vertical shield is as broad as long in this specimen. 



[June, 



