MASTICOPHIS. 99 



the middle of the commissure, and over the junctioa of the 4th and 

 5th labials. Upper orbital very large, extending far forwards above, 

 its upper angle reaching the angle of the vertical. Loral rather 

 large, higher than long. Nasals moderate. Upper labials 8 ; the 

 6th subtriangular, and smaller; the 7th and 8 th largest of all, elon- 

 gated, equal. Lower labials 9, the 5th largest. 



Body very slender and attenuated. Dorsal rows of scales 17, all 

 smooth, elongated, even the exterior row longer than broad. 



Color anteriorly, above and on the sides black, this distinct for 

 one-fourth of the length, fading gradually into brown, which be- 

 comes lighter and lighter towards the tail. Behind the black portion, 

 the scales above are brownish yellow at their basal margin, the rest 

 of the scale more or less mottled with the different shades of brown. 

 The darkest tint is usually seen near the tip of the scales, this on 

 the tail forming a distinct margin. Beneath, the color is yellowish 

 white, on the anterior fifth so much blotched with purplish brown as 

 to be nearly uniform, posterior to which it disappears almost en- 

 tirely, being represented only by occasional dashes. The ends of 

 each scutella, however, on their margins, exhibit the reddish brown 

 blotches, and are colored much like the sides of the body at that 

 place. The centres of all the plates beneath and on the sides of the 

 head are yellow. Anteorbital mostly yellow. 

 K Carolina. !i02+2. 96. 17. 44. lOJ. Dr. W. J. Burnett. 



2. MasticopIllS flavigularls, B. & G.— Light dull yellow, tinged 

 •with brown above. Beneath, two longitudinal series of blotches distinct an- 

 teriorly. In alcohol, and especially when the epidermis is removed, the 

 whole animal appears of a soiled white. 



Syn. Psanimophis flavigularis, Hallow. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VI, 

 1852, 178. 



Size very large. Vertical plate broad before, tapering to the middle, 

 where it is about half as wide as anteriorly, thence it runs nearly 

 parallel. Vertical rather shorter than occipitals. Greatest breadth 

 across superciliaries less than half the length of the portion covered 

 by plates. Occipitals moderate. Centre of eye considerably an- 

 terior to the centre of commissure ; over the junction of the 4th and 

 5th labials. Labials 8 above, increasing in size to the 5th, which is 

 elongated vertically, the 7th elongate and largest. The 5th forms 

 part of the inferior and posterior wall of the orbit, as in all the species 

 of the genus, resting above against the lower postorbital, with which 



