78 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



are broken into spots. Their extremities are separated into lateral spots, 

 which become smaller posteriorly, and are finally confluent into a line, which 

 is on the third or fourth rows of scales; it is obsolete on the tail. Superior 

 labials and tinder surface yellowish ; a few dark shades upon the margins 

 and extremities of the gastrosteges. 



Habitat. Paraguay. Mus. Smithsonian, (No. 5809.) Capt. Page's Expedi- 

 tion. 



This species is a near relation of L. almadensis.* It has one more 

 row of scales on each side, a shorter, thicker tail, a less distinct head, a more 

 acute muzzle and different coloration. It is annectant to Ophiomorphus, where 

 it most resembles 0. c o b e 1 1 a. 



Liophis epinephalus. 



General form elongate, the head not very distinct, with broad muzzle, the 

 tail slender, more elongate than in the preceding species, not so much so as in 

 L. r e g i n a e. Rostral plate flat, broad, rounded, visible from above; com- 

 mon suture of prefrontals two-thirds that of the postfrontals ; the latter are 

 very broad. Vertical and superciliaries elongate, the former one aud a half 

 times as long as its anterior suture ; lateral sutures straight, convergent, pos- 

 terior sutures short. Occipitals rather short, rounded posteriorly, bounded by 

 two large and two small temporals. The anterior of these is elongate, in con- 

 tact with two labials and two postoculars. Loreal higher than long, encroach- 

 ing on the preocular. Superior labials eight ; third, fourth and fifth entering 

 the orbit. Inferior labials ten. Total length 20 in. 9 1.; tail 4 in. 9 1. 



General color above brown ; the sides tinged with yellow ; a few scales, with 

 a light margin. Large alternating black spots, broad on the median line, nar- 

 rowed upon the sides, almost obscure the ground color. They are more distinct 

 anteriorly; posteriorly the ground is visible in short alternating half bands. 

 Tail blackish above, a black band on each side, which is the continuation of a 

 confluent series of spots which are cut off from the extremities of the dorsal 

 spots. Top of head blackish ; a black dot on each side of the occipital suture. 

 Superior labials light yellowish, immaculate. 



Habitat. Truando, New Granada. Mus. Washington, (No. 4305.) Lieut. 

 Michler's Expedition. 



This species is a near ally of L. r e g i n a e and almadensis. In squa- 

 mation it resembles them closely, but differs very widely from both in colora- 

 tion. The absence of temple bands and of ventral spots, separate it from the 

 former, while the ground color and spots of the upper surface are not imi- 

 tated by the latter. 



Liophis putnamii. 



General form elongate. Head very distinct, rather short, with narrow pro- 

 minent muzzle, flat above. Rostral plate not visible from above, vertical and 

 superciliaries elongate, the former very nearly twice as long as the anterior 

 border ; lateral borders a little concave. Occipitals not elongate, bifurcate, 

 obtuse. Temporals two large, one or two small, the anterior in contact with 

 two labials and two postoculars. One preocular, considerably separated from 

 vertical. Loreal higher than long, its superior border longitudinal. Eight 

 superior labials, fourth and fifth entering orbit ; sixth with a postocular suture 

 longer than a temporal. Temporal suture of seventh very long. Inferior la- 

 bials ten. Scales in seventeen longitudinal rows. Total length 25 in. 9 lin.; 

 tail 7 in. 



Yellowish brown above, with a deep brown median dorsal band occupying 

 three rows of scales. The median row of scales for a short distance anteriorly 

 is lighter. On the tail the band is narrow, and is wanting on the terminal 



* S. wagleri, Jan. Arch. f. Naturgesch. 1859- Natrix atmada et semilineata Wagl 

 Spix Serp. Braz. L. rtgina, var. Pr. A. N. S., 1860, 253, 



[Feb. 



