152 [August, 



the fourth ; prseanal scute bifid ; scales very distinctly carinated, except the 

 three inferior rows, which are smooth ; color above ash ; beneath yellow, with 

 transverse dark colored blotches, arranged for the most part alternately, 

 extending upon the sides ; these blotches extend about half way across the 

 abdomen ; the broadest occupy two scales, the most narrow usually but one, 

 and occasionally unite in the middle; 19 rows of scales; 159 abdom. scuta: 

 33 bifid sub-caudal. 



Dimensions. Total length 2 ft. 6 J inches, (Fr. ;) length of tail 3 in. 8 lines. 



Habitat. Ningpo, China. One specimen, in excellent preservation, in Mus. 

 Acad., presented by Dr. McCartee. 



Gen. CORONELLA. 



The genus Coronella, established by Laurenti in 1768, is placed by Dumeril 

 and Bibron with the Tropidonotes in the family of Syncrateriens, having " all the 

 teeth smooth, distributed in the same line, but with the last longer, without a free 

 interspace in front of them." T. vii. p. 525. The genus is thus characterized: 



" Serpents with superior maxillary teeth longer and upon the same line with 

 the others, without interval ; trunk elongated ; tail moderate ; scales smooth ; 

 snout rounded and a little elongated." Dum. et Bib., tom. vii. p. 607. 



Seven species only are described by them, which inhabit Central and South- 

 ern Europe, Cape of Good Hope, (cana,) U. States, (getulus, Sayi, doliata, Cali- 

 fornica.) To these may be added one formerly described by me from W.Africa, 

 (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.,) C. triangularis, and the present species from China. 

 Others will no doubt be determined hereafter. 



Coronella striata, nob. 



Char. Head short and thick, rostral plate large and slightly prominent, more 

 extended transversely ; internasals two in number, somewhat quadrangular, 

 smaller than prefrontals ; prefrontals large and quadrangular, frontal broad and 

 short ; occipitals large ; nostrils between two plates, a long quadrangular plate 

 reaching from the posterior nasal to the eye, with a small quadrangular plate 

 above it, between the eye and the prefrontal ; two posterior orbitals ; eight supe- 

 rior labials, the four first narrow, the remainder broad, with the inferior margin 

 of the orbil formed by the fourth and fifth ; scales smooth and quadrangular, 

 17 rows ; body long and robust ; head thicker than neck ; tail of moderate length, 

 pointed. 



Coloration. Head brown above, the margins of the plates edged with white ; 

 jaws and throat white; a brown blotch behind the eye extending to near the 

 commissure of the mouth ; a broader one upon the occiput bordered posteriorly 

 with white ; behind the white stripe on either side, which commences near the 

 posterior extremity of the occipital plate, a large brown blotch ; upon the back 

 a row of 47 quadrate brown blotches, the interspaces white ; sides spotted with 

 brown ; abdomen straw color, immaculate ; thirteen blotches upon the tail ex- 

 tending upon the sides, with intervening white bands as upon the body ; under 

 part of tail brown spotted. 



Abdom. scuta 193; prseanal single ; subcaudal 70. 



Dimensions. Length of head 1 inch 6 lines, greatest breadth 1 inch, (Fr. ;) 

 length of body 2 feet 11| inches ; greatest circumference 3 inches 3 lines ; length 

 of tail 8 inches. Total length 3 feet ten lines ; greatest circumference 3 inches 

 3 lines. 



Habitat. Ningpo, China. Two specimens in Mus. Acad., presented by Dr. 

 McCartee, one fully grown, another younger, and the head and neck of a third. 

 In one of these specimens there is a distinct anterior orbital plate, with a long 

 quadrangular loral between it and the posterior nasal. 



CROTALID^. 



We have also two specimens^of Trigonocephali from Ningpo, China, presented 

 by Dr. McCartee, which correspond with the description of Dumeril and Bibron, 



