76 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



L. line a tu s (type\ L. d il ep is n. sp., L. e 1 egan s, L. fl a'vi fre n a- 

 t u s n. sp. , L. r u t i 1 u s n. sp., L. conirostris (approaches near to Ophi- 

 omorphus). 



Dromicus Bibr. Body moderate or short. Head little distinct. Scales 

 poreless. Tail one-third, or a greater proportion of the total length. [Calo- 

 phis Fitz). 



D. fugit i v u s (type). D. p a r vi fr o n s n. sp., D. t e mp o ral i s,* D. 

 callilaemus, D. exiguu s n. sp. 



Liophis Wagl. Body elongate, slender. Head distinct. Scales uniporous. 

 Tail one-fourth the total length, or longer. [Orophis et Limadophis Fitz). 



L. r e g i n a e (type) ? L. taeniurus, L. almadensis, L. subfas- 

 ciatus n. sp., L. m el an on o tu s, L. temminckii, L. perfuscus 

 n. sp., L. epinephelus n. sp., L. p u t n a m i i, n. sp. 



Alsophis Fitz. (sine diagnosi). Body moderate. Head distinct, acute. 

 Scales biporous. Tail one-third total length, or longer. 



A. antillensis (type). A. sancticrusis n. sp., A. melanich- 

 n u s n. sp., A. a n g u 1 i f e r, A. v u d i i, n. sp., A. 1 e u c o m ela s,f A. 

 ater, A. fun er ens n. sp. 



Dromici triscalis, inornatus, rufiventris and pie i of the Erp. 

 Gen. and D. rufodorsatus and a f f i n i s of Gunther ; Liophis bicinctns 

 Dum., L. taeniurus and L. 1 a t e ri s tr i g a, J Berth. I have not been 

 able to compare. 



So far as is known, Alsophis and Dromicus are West Indian, Lygophis and 

 Ophiomorphus South American ; Liophis inhabits both regions. 



Alsophis sancticrucis. 



Body thick. Scales broad in seventeen longitudinal rows. In other respects 

 the squamation is similar to that of H. a n t i 1 1 e n s i s, as pointed out by Dr. 

 Gunther, || including the peculiar loreal plate, which presents an angle up- 

 wards. The color superiorly is deep yellowish brown, or almost black, some- 

 times the scales of the fourth row with yellowish centres, producing a banded 

 appearance, others with one yellow margin. The whole, or anterior part only 

 of the superior surface of the head is varied, or shaded with dark yellow. A 

 narrow band of the same passed along the canthus rostralis beyond the eye to 

 the temporal region. Superior labials and chin bright golden yellow, some- 

 times varied with brown. Gastrosteges deep yellow, margined, finally shaded 

 and obscured with brown and blackish, the yellow remaining upon their ex- 

 tremities, forming a band of spots. A narrow yellow line extends for some 

 distance upon the neck, on the line of separation of the second and third rows 

 rows of scales. Total length 50 inches, tail 17 inches. 



Habitat. St. Croix Id , W. Indies. Mus. Philadelphia, Washington. 



Examination of a number of specimens of A. antillensis and compari- 

 son of them with two of this animal, and with Dr. Giinther's description of 

 three that came under his notice, has resulted in a conviction of their specific 

 difference. This and the succeeding species would be called by some zoolo- 

 gists " geographical" or " local varieties." 



Alsophis melanichnus. 



Squamation as in H. sancticrucis; seventeen rows of rather broad 

 scales, two more than antillensis. Yellowish olivaceous above, without 

 lines or punctulation, every scale tipped, and bordered with brown. Superior 

 labials lighter, unspotted. A narrow black band from the rostral plate to the 



* Pr. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1860, p, 370. 



t This species is not identical wiih H. ater, as stated by Gunther. 

 t Goettingen Nachrichten, 1859, p. 210. 



|| Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1859, p. 210: Here also are noticed the double scale pores of 

 this species. 



[Feb. 



