COLUBER.SAURITA. 89 



a straight border throughout its whole extent; the lateral line or band is 

 broader, including two scales, with its margins less regular, and of a dusky 

 greenish-white colour; on each side of this line are dusky or black, small rhom- 

 boid spots, sometimes arranged in a row; the lateral lines or bands are broader, 

 more or less distinct, including two scales or more; they are of dirty yellowish- 

 white, tinged with green, and have not the same regular margin; the abdomen 

 is shining creamy white, with a tinge of green. The tail is coloured like the 

 body, but the lateral lines only continue for a short distance behind the vent. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 10 lines; length of body, 23 inches; length of 

 tail, 12 inches; total length, 35 inches 10 lines. This animal at times reaches 

 the length of nearly four feet; in general, however, they are found between two 

 and three feet long. In the specimen here described, there were 165 abdominal 

 plates, and 117 subcaudal scales; but this number is by no means constant, as I 

 have seen by comparing several animals; among others the following, now in 

 the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia: 



1. A specimen from Missouri, given by Mr. Eckhart: abdominal plates, 156; 

 subcaudal scales, 121. — 2. One from Pennsylvania, by Dr. Allison: abdominal 

 plates, 150; subcaudal scales, 112. — 3. One from Delaware, by Dr. Green: 

 abdominal plates, 156; subcaudal scales, 93; tail imperfect. — 4. One from Key 

 West: abdominal plates, 160; subcaudal scales, 125. — 5. One from South Caro- 

 lina: abdominal plates, 147; subcaudal scales, 117. 



Geographical Distribution. The Coluber saurita has a wide range. I have 

 seen it in most of the states from Maine to Georgia; and have received specimens 

 from Louisiana, Arkansas and the far west; and, if I am correct in supposing 

 this animal identical with the Coluber proximus of Say, which I doubt not, then 

 does it reach the very foot of the Rocky Mountains. Say observes the Coluber 

 proximus only differs from our animal "in the numerical proportion that its 

 subcaudal scales bear to its abdominal plates;" which is not sufficient of itself to 

 distinguish animals so closely allied. 

 Vol. IV.— 12 



