248 [October, 



of rings. They are from Arkansas and Louisiana ; number of rows of scales not 

 mentioned, (Cat. N. Am. Reptiles in Smith. Inst. p. 91). Ophibolus is not cha- 

 racterized with sufficient precision to be retained, including as it does two genera, 

 Ablabes and Coronella, belonging to different families, the one (Ablabes) an 

 Isodontian, with teeth of equal length, the other (Coronella) a syncraterian, 

 (posterior teeth in the latter much larger and stronger than those which precede 

 them, a well marked character in our specimens). The one from Delaware 

 corresponds very well with Prof. Holbrook's Coronella doliata, though the rings 

 are not so generally confluent with the spots upon the abdomen. 



In one of the younger specimens, one 9 J the other 7f inches in length, the red 

 blotches are much wider apart, the black rings more narrow in proportion and 

 the white interspaces wider than in the other. The black rings in rows, in these 

 specimens entirely surround the abdomen. (We need for the thorough elucida- 

 tion of the natural history of the Coronellians resembling each other so much 

 in color, a greater number of specimens and of all ages. Our friends would 

 confer a favor upon science would they take care, as has been the case to a 

 great extent in the Kansas collection, to send us numerous specimens of the same 

 species.) 



Gen. Ramarlis. The coloration of this serpent differs very considerably from 

 that of the figure of Ophibolus gentilis, B. and G., in the exploration of the Red 

 river of Louisiana, by Capt. Randolph B. Marcy and George B. McClellan. The 

 blotches in that figure are much more extended, and the black marginal rings 

 much wider apart. In one of these specimens there were 25 instead of 29 pairs 

 of black rings, the red portion occupying a much greater space ; but in another 

 there were 28; dorsal row of scales 21; Ab. scut. 198 ; sub-caud. 45; total 

 length 20 inches. These black ringed Coronellians will probably, when a suf- 

 ficient number of specimens shall have been procured from diiferent parts of 

 the Union to determine the question, turn out to be for the most part varieties 

 of one and the same species. 



Gen. Tropidonotus, Kuhl. 



The genus Tropidonotus belongs to the family of Syncraterians of Dum. and 

 Bibron, in which the teeth are in a continuous row without interval, and the 

 posterior longer than the others ; the scales in this genus, as its name indicates, 

 are always carinated, more especially those upon the flanks. The tail is of 

 moderate length. Three species in the collection belong to this genus, viz. : 

 Tropidonotus parictalis of Say, of which there are three fine specimens ; a much 

 larger one, (Trop. obliquus,) and Trop. ordinatus. 



TuopiDONOTUS PARiETALis, Say. 



The collection made by Dr. Hammond includes two specimens of Tropidonotus 

 parietalis. Both these serpents correspond with the short but clear de- 

 scription of Say. The red spots on the sides are very apparent; one of the 

 specimens is quite stout, the circumference being 3^ inches at the middle; 147 

 abdom. scut, a single prseanal, (tail mutilated) 19 rows of scales, the inferior 

 row smooth, the middle stripe broad, occupying one and the half of each 

 adjoining row of scales. In the smaller specimen, Ab. so. 155., and 83 sub- 

 caudal ; tail of moderate length, rather long and tapering. 



Habiiat. Between San Antonio, El Paso, Missouri (Say); Kansas, California, 

 (Dr. Heermann); Rio San Pedro, Texas, (Woodhouse.) 



There is but one specimen of Tropidonotus ordinatus (young) with the lateral 

 stripes very distinct, three rows of alternate black spots; extremities of abdo- 

 minal scales black spotted anteriorly ; occipital plates bi-punctate ; 21 rows of 

 scales all carinated, inferior row largest; ab. sc. 167, a single prajnal, 78 sub- 

 caudal. Total length, 1 foot 1 inch 7 lines, of tail 3^ inches. 



Tropidonotus obliquus, nob. 

 Char. Head long, flattened above, nostril between two plates, a loral, other 

 plates normal, 8 superior labials, the eye resting on the 4th and 5th, 6th and 7th 



