HETERODON SIMUS. 59 



cheeks are light grey, with a dusky narrow band descending from the posterior 

 and inferior part of the orbit to the angle of the mouth. , 



The body is light grey, with a triple series of dusky or black spots, the vertebral 

 range largest, generally sub-quadrate, though they vary in form and size, and are 

 separated from each other by a transverse light-coloured bar; the lateral series 

 are much smaller, generally rounded, and placed at the extremities of the light- 

 coloured bars, so as to alternate with the dorsal series. The throat and abdomen 

 in general are dirty white, marked with numerous small black dots, though the 

 colour is liable to variations. The tail is fawn colour, with transverse bands a 

 shade or two darker. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 9 lines; breadth of head when not flattened, 7 

 lines; length of body, 11 inches; length of tail, If inches: total length, IS^ inches. 

 In the individual described there were one hundred and thirty-two abdominal 

 plates, and one hundred and thirty-six sub-caudal bifid plates, with a small com- 

 pressed and pointed scale at the tip of the tail. 



Geographical Distribution. The Heterodon simus is found about the sea 

 islands of Georgia and South Carolina, and may even be seen as far north as 

 southern Virginia; but I have no evidence of its existence beyond lat. 35° in the 

 Atlantic states. 



General Remarks. It is most probable that the Coluber simus is the animal 

 represented in Catesby's work as the Hog Nose Snake, though he gave no descrip- 

 tion by Avhich it can be distinguished from the Heterodon platirhinos of Beauvais. 

 I believe the animals to be identical: first, because the Heterodon simus is common 

 m the section of country visited by Catesby, while the Heterodon platirhinos is 

 there seldom, if ever, seen; I never met with it in Carolina, save in the interior of 

 the state: and secondly, Linnaeus drew up his description of the Coluber simus 

 from an individual furnished him by Garden, from the immediate neighbourhood of 

 Charleston, where this species abounds. 



