68 COLUBERSAYI. 



well as on the neck, -where they are much smaller. The tail is short, thick at its 

 root, but soon becomes smaller, and terminates in a horny point; the scales of the 

 tail are large, but shorter in proportion than those of the back. 



Colour. The head is bluish-black above; each plate with one or more yellow- 

 ish-white oblong spots; the superior labial plates are yellowish or milky-white, 

 each with a black border at either end, where two adjoining plates meet, which 

 gives a banded appearance to the upper jaw. Every scale of the neck, body and 

 tail is marked with a milky-white oblong spot, most commonly in the centre, but 

 sometimes near the border, so that those of neighbouring scales come nearly in 

 contact, or three or four appear in clusters together; these spots are largest 

 low down on the flanks. The plates of the throat and abdomen are milk-white, 

 each with a black spot, either a square or parallelogram; sometimes these spots 

 are placed in the centre of the plate, and at others near their lateral extremities. 

 In the posterior half of the body the black prevails; the last plate is however 

 entirely white. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 1 inch 3 lines; greatest breadth, 1 inch; length 

 of body, 40 inches; length of tail beyond vent, 6 inches 2 lines; total length, 3 

 feet 11 inches 5 lines. 



In the specimen here described there are 205 abdominal plates, and 53 sub- 

 caudal scales, with a small horn at the tip of the tail. 



Habits. I am ignorant of the habits of this serpent, never having seen but 

 one specimen alive. 



Geographical Distribution. The Coluber Sayi seems to be widely extended 

 in the valley of the Mississippi; for I have received them from Louisiana high 

 up the Red river, from Missouri, from Arkansas, and also many specimens from 

 Alabama; which, for the present, I must put down as its northern limit. 



