RHINOSTOMA. 110 



below, with the lower postorbital resting upon it : all the labials 

 nearly equal in size; 4th and 5th largest. Lower labials 8, 5th 

 largest. » 



The back and sides are embraced by about 20 elongated longitu- 

 dinal black rings (the 16th opposite the anus), their anterior and 

 posterior sides on the dorsal line, their lateral resting on the outer 

 dorsal row. Across the back the black is well defined and continu- 

 ous, about two scales long ; on the sides, however (from the 1st to 

 the 3d rows), the black is interrupted more or less, sometimes re- 

 duced to a few scattered scales. The intervals between the succes- 

 sive rings are yellow, with the centres of the scales dusky (they 

 sometimes have only a narrow margin of yellowish), and on the sides 

 may be seen a distinct rhomboidal black spot opposite each dorsal 

 light interval. This is sometimes broken up, and confused with the 

 black of the rings on the sides. The large spaces enclosed by the 

 rings themselves are yellowish red (said to be crimson in life), six 

 to nine scales long, and about thirteen wide : they are variable in 

 length, being larger at about the anterior third than elsewhere. 

 Beneath uniform yellowish white. The first ring crosses just behind 

 the occipital plates, and in front of it is a narrow black band crossing 

 the middle of the occipitals, from one angle of the mouth to the 

 other, sometimes connected with the first ring by a narrow black 

 line. Rest of the head yellowish. Another specimen has 26 rings, 

 the 20th opposite the anus. 



Anderson, S. C. 169. 35. 19. 17i 2. Miss C Paine. 



Ricehoro, Ga. 166. 45. 19. 18i. 2|. Dr. W. L. Jones. 

 Mississippi. — — — Dr. B. F. Shumard. 



A specimen from Prairie Mer Rouge has the whole lower wall of 

 the orbit constituted by the 3d labial, with both anterior and pos- 

 terior orbitals resting upon it. The vertical is more elongated. 

 The anterior dorsal ring, instead of being continuous, is divided an- 

 teriorly, and the ends, after approximating, are bent back on the oc- 

 cipitals, and extend to the eye. The snout, too, seems rather more 

 pointed. 

 Prairie 3Ier Rouge, La. 166. 36. 19. 13|. 2i. Jas. Fairie. 



