132 Hay — Batrachians and Reptiles of D. C. 



CLASS REPTILIA. 



The reptilian fauna of this region includes, according to our 

 present information, about forty species and subspecies. Of 

 these, four are lizards, eiglit are turtles and the remainder are 

 snakes. For the distinguishing characters of the two orders 

 represented in our fauna the reader is referred to page 122. 

 Below is given the 



Key to the Species of Squamata. 



a. LizARBs — Sides of lower jaw not independently movable, united by a 

 bony suture in front; shoulder j^irdle present; eyelids and tympan- 

 um usually evident; Umlis Jf,iii all ovr upeeies. Suborder Saukia. 

 b. Scales on tail, or body, or both, keeled. 

 c. Keeled scales on tail only. Cnemidophorus sexlineatus, 25. 

 cc. Both tail and body with keeled scales. Seeloporvs vmhddtus, 24. 

 bb. Body and tail with smooth scales only. 



(I. Limbs overlapping when pressed to side. Ei/meces fasciatus, 26. 

 dd. Limbs not meeting when pressed to side. 



Lygosoma later ale, 27. 

 aa. Snakes — Sides of lower jaw independently movable, united by liga- 

 ment only; no shoulder girdle; no eyelids; no tympanum; liinbs 



entirely wanting. Suborder Serpentes. 



e. Non venomous species; no pit between eye and nostril ; no fangs. 

 /. None of the dorsal scales keeled. 

 g. Anal plate divided. 



h. Scales on tail feebly keeled. - Virginia valerite, 46. 

 hJi. Scales on tail smooth like those on body. 

 i. Scales in 13 rows, color brownish. 



CarphopJiis ammnus, 28. 

 ii. Scales in 15 to 17 rows. 

 j. Color grass green. - - Liopeltis vernalis, 31 

 jj. Color black or blotched light and dark brown. 

 k. Bluish black, with yellow collar. 



Diadoplds punctatus, 29. 

 kk. Black, no collar; young blotched. 



Bascanion constrictor, 33. 

 gg. Anal plate not divided. 



I. Black or brown, with narrow yellowish cross-lines. 



Lam,propeltis getulus, 38. 



II. Brown or red, with large, dark-margined blotches. 



m. Chestnut or olive brown, with about 50 rhombic 

 • blotches along the back, others on sides. 



Lampropeltis rhombomaculatus, 37. 



mm. Red or brownish red, with a series of triple rings 



or dark bordered spots; head with yellow or red. 



Lampropeltis doliatus, 36. 



