SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS. 1»7 



bital united. Prefrontal entering the orbit. Postorbitals two. Anal and 

 subcaudals bifid. .Scales smooth or keeled, in 15 to 17 rows. 

 Scales in 17 rows, 

 keeled ; 



labials five; 



one internasal striafula. 



two internasals inornata. 



smooth or keeled; 



labials six elegans. 



scales in 15 rows, smooth or keeled; 

 internasals two; 



postorbitals two valeriae. 



postorbitals three harperti. 



Virginia striatula, pi VII, jig. 2. 



Coluber stkiatuli's Linne, 1766, Syst. ed. XII, I, 375. 



Small, moderately slender, subcylindrical, belly broad; head small, not 

 distinct from the neck, subcorneal, narrow in front; tail short, stout, tapering. 

 Snout moderate, narrow. Eye small, pupil round. Mouth-cleft medium, 

 slightly curved. Nostrils anterior, directed outward. Crown-shields eight. 

 Prefrontals long and broad, entering the orbit. One internasal. Rostral 

 subtriangular, very small. Nasal in two parts, nostril in anterior. No 

 loreal, fused with anteorbital. Orbitals 1 — 1. Temporals 1+1. Labials 

 five, third and fourth in orbit, fifth largest. Infralabials six, fifth largest. 

 Posterior pair of submentals half as long as the anterior. Scales keeled. 

 in 17 rows, dorsal narrow, outer broad and faintly carinate. Ventrals 

 119 — 130. Anal bifid. Subcaudals 25 — 46 pairs. 



Uniform greyish or reddish-brown; light yellowish or reddish beneath. 

 With or without a band of light color across the occipitals which spreads 

 upon the posterior labials. Massachusetts to Mississippi. 



Virginia inornata n. ,sy>. 

 Moderately stout, slightly depressed; head small, not distinct from the 

 neck, subcorneal; tail short, tapering to a point. Snout short, blunt. Eye 

 moderate, pupil round. Nostrils anterior, directed horizontally in the 



Mem. — vol. n — 7 



