190 THE HERPETOLOGY OF CUBA. 



just visible from above; frontal somewhat longer than broad, distinctly shorter 

 than its distance from the rostral; parietals short; one pre- and two (rarely 

 three) postoculars ; nine (or ten) upper labials, fourth, fifth, and sixth entering 

 orbit; scales smooth in twenty-five (often twenty-three) rows; ventrals 152 

 (range 140-158), anal entire; subcaudals twenty-nine (range 22-30). 



Colour (in life) : — Brownish or grayish above uith usually four, some- 

 times six longitudinal series of dark blotches. "V^Tien there are six the two 

 middorsal series of spots are largest, when but four rows they are of about 

 equal size. There is sometimes a conspicuous dark spot on the crown and often 

 a cross-bar on the snout, and a dark streak on each side of the head. Very 

 young individuals sometimes present a beautiful semilunar spot of yellowish 

 white on the nape or postparietal region. The belly is yellowish with a double 

 series of alternate or opposite dark markings. 



Dimensions: — Total length 210 mm. 



Vent to tip of tail 32 mm. 



This snake is the smallest and in Cuba at any rate probably the least com- 

 mon member of the genus except semicinctus. Its habits differ in no wise from 

 those of its ally T. maculatus. At first sight it appears very similar indeed to 

 this species but it may usually be separated by its darker and duller colom-ation, 

 with series of much larger dark blotches and it may always be recognized by its 

 having fewer ventral scales. It is distinctly a shorter, stouter snake than the 

 other. It is found in the Bahamas on New Providence, Andros, and Eleuthera. 

 On New Providence it is very conmion indeed. Here it is called the Thunder 

 Snake for it frequently appears crawling by daylight after heavy thunder show- 

 ers which doubtless fill its retreats with water and drive it abroad. 



58. Tropidophis maculatus (Bibron). 



Plate 5, fig. 3. 



Majci. 



Diagnosis: — A rather small spotted constricting snake, sluggish and in- 

 offensive, which is only to be confused with T. pardalis and from this species 

 it may be known by having the belly-scales more than 165 in number. This 

 and the others of the genus make no effort to escape but coil up tightly into a 

 sphere when disturbed. 



