100 SYNOPSES AM) DESCRIPTIONS. 



eight, fifth larger. Submentals two pairs, hinder half as long as the 

 anterior. Temporals 34-3. Scales hexagonal on the Hanks, elongate on 

 the back, in 13 rows. Ventrals 117. Subcaudals 22 pairs. Length y 

 inches; tail 1,', inches. Lower California. (Cope.) 



» 



Carphophis cincta. 



Chilomeniscus cinctus Cope, 1861, Pr. Ac. N. Sc, PhU., 303. 



Internasals separated by the rostral. Nasal grooved behind the nostril. 

 One small anteoeular. Two postoculars. Labials 7, first long, remainder 

 high, except the last two, which are nearly equilateral. .Scales very broad, 

 smooth, in 13 rows. Anal divided. Tail very short. 



Reddish-white. Encircled by sixteen black rings upon the body and 

 three upon the tail. Rings and spaces about equal, three to five scales 

 each. Parietals and frontal black to the second labials. Chin shaded 

 with black. Guaymas, Gulf of California. Possibly the same as the 

 preceding. (Cope.) 



Carphophis helenae. 



Celuta helenae Kenrdcott, 1859, Pr. Ac. .V. Sc., Phil, 100. 

 Carphopiiis amoena var. helenae, Jan, 18(>2, Arch, per la Zodl. 



"Snout shorter and narrower than in C. amoena. A single pair of 

 frontal plates. Color above lustrous chestnut brown; beneath pale yel- 

 lowish (flesh-color in life), color of the abdomen extending to second 

 lateral row of dorsal scales. Readily distinguishable by the suppression 

 of the anterior frontals." Mississippi, Illinois. 



Carphophis amoena, pi. VII, jig. 1. 



Coluber amoena Say, L825, ./•'"/■. A<-. X. Sc., Phil., -'■'•'. 

 Carphophis amoena Gervais, 1S43, Diet. d'Hist. Nat., Ill, 191. 



Small, moderately stout, subcylindrical, belly broad; head not distinct 

 from the neck, crown convex, muzzle broad; tail short, near one fifth of 

 the total, thick, conical. Eye small, pupil round. Mouth moderate, nearly 

 straight. Head-shields nine, broad, excepting the supraciliaries, which are 

 very small. Frontal hexagonal. Internasals small. Rostral about as 

 broad as high, very convex. Nasal entire, the small nostril in its anterior 

 half. Xo loreal. Orbitals 1 — 1, anterior elongate. One temporal. Labials 

 five, third and fourth under the eye. fifth largest. Infralabials six, fourth 



