96 COLUBER ORDINATUS. 



projecting in between the superior orbital and frontal plates; there are three 

 small quadrilateral posterior orbitals; the inferior wall of the orbit is completed 

 by the third and fourth labials, of which plates there are seven on each side, 

 quadrilateral to the fourth; the fifth and sixth are pentagonal, the seventh 

 triangular and smaller. The eye is rather large; the pupil dusky, and the iris 

 greenish-yellow. The neck is contracted. 



The body is elongated, but robust, flattened, and covered with strongly carinated 

 hexagonal scales above, and with plates below. 



Colour. The head is dusky above, tinged with green; the lips are lighter, 

 with a black or dusky bar at the place of junction of the plates. The body and 

 tail above are green, tinged with olive, sometimes with an indistinct vertebral 

 line of lighter colour, which does not seem to be the result of age; there are 

 five longitudinal series of small quadrate black spots, generally including parts 

 of two or three adjoining scales; the spots of the diffei-ent series alternate with 

 each other, or are arranged in a regular quincunx; at the tail they are less regular. 

 The throat and abdomen are greenish-yellow, and each plate is marked near its 

 lateral extremities with a semicircular black spot; which, as they are placed in 

 regular succession, make two lonoitudinal series along the abdomen. The tail 

 is clouded yellow below, becoming more and more dusky towards the tip. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 1 inch; length of body to vent, 18 inches; length 

 of tail beyond vent, 6^; total length, 25i inches. In the animal here described, 

 there were 143 abdominal plates, and 166 subcaudal scales. 



Habits. The Coluber ordinatus prefers meadows and pastures, where the 

 grass is luxuriant, and preys on such insects, or small reptiles, as may select the 

 same localities. 



Geographical Distribution. This animal inhabits the southern states, as far 

 north as Maryland; beyond this I have no evidence of its existence. 



