52 DESCRIPTION OP A NEW SNAKE. 



suture with its fellow behind the rostral, which latter shield is 

 twice as broad as high, and is rectangular posteriorly ; anterior 

 f rentals small, triangular; posterior frontals much larger, separated 

 the one from the other by an interposed shield, as large as one of 

 the anterior frontals ; loreal large, twice the size of the same ; 

 vertical pentagonal, acutely angular posteriorly, one-half longer 

 than broad ; occipitals much longer than the vertical, more than 

 twice as long as broad, and acutely rounded posteriorly ; one large 

 supraciliary ; two pre- and one post-oculars ; temporals in three 

 series, the tirst and third of the upper row being much larger 

 than the others ; eight rather high and narrow upper labials, the 

 fourth and fifth entering the eye, the eighth small. Lead color 

 above, yellowish- white below, both colors sharply defined ; many of 

 the scales of the back and sides blackish forming six irregular longi- 

 tudinal bands ; a broad lateral lead-colored band on either margin 

 of the abdominal plates, and a narrower and more obscure median 

 one, not reaching to the vent ; a broad median black band on the 

 sub-caudals. 



