SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS . 101 



largest. Submentals two pairs, posterior less than half as large as the 

 anterior. Scales smooth, in thirteen rows, medial a little longer than 

 broad, outer and caudal as broad as or broader than lung. Ventrals 

 112 — 131. Anal divided. Subcaudals 24 — 36 pairs. 



Uniform lustrous reddish-brown above (more red in life); light yellowish 

 beneath to second row of scales (flesh-color or red in life). Mississippi 

 Valley to Illinois and to Massachusetts. 



VAR VERMIS. 



Celuta vermis Kenn., 1859, Pr. Ac. N. »S'c, Phil., 99. 



Larger than C. amoena. Prefrontals and internasals separate. Black 

 color of the back reaching only to the third rows of scales. Missouri and 

 Kansas. A variety of the preceding. 



Geophis. 



Wagler, 1830. 



Body elongate, subcylindrical ; head scarcely distinct from the neck; 

 tail short, subcorneal. Eyes small. Teeth equal, smooth. Crown-shields 

 nine. Internasals much smaller than the prefrontals, rarely suppressed or 

 fused. Nasal divided. Loreal and anteorbital united. Postorbitals one 

 to two. Scales smooth, in 15 to 19 rows. Anal entire. Subcaudals in 

 two rows. 



Scales in 15 rows ; 



back transversely banded with black; 



parietal and labials in contact semidoliatus. 



scales in 17 rows; 

 back black ; 



frontal longer than broad; 



parietal and fifth labial in contact bicolor. 



back plumbeous; 



frontal broader than long; 



parietal and labials not in contact latifrontalis. 

 scales in 19 rows; 



back crossed by bands of black ; 



parietals and labials not in contact lippiens. 



