172 Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



Habitat. — From Missouri west to the Pacific Coast. 

 Missouri localities : — Crawford, Stone, and Jasper Coun- 

 ties. 



Habits. — So far I have only received this species from 

 the Ozark Plateau, but have never found one myself. 

 Hence I can say nothing concerning its life history. 



60. Bascanion flagellum Shaw. Coach- Whip Snake. 



Bascanion flagellum flagellum, Bascanium flagelliforme, Bascanium fla- 

 gelliforme flagelliforme. BascaniuTn flagelliforme testaceum, Bas- 

 canion flagelliforme, Bascanium flagelliforme bicinctum. Bascan- 

 ium piceum, Zamensis flagellum, Zamensis flagellum flagellum, Za- 

 mensis flagelliformis, Bascanium flagelliforme piceum, Zamensis 

 flagellum piceus, Zamensis flavigularis, Masticophis flagelliformis, 

 Masticophis flagelliformis testaceus, Masticophis testaceus, Mas- 

 ticophis flavigularis, Herpetodryas flagelliformis, Herpetodrya^ 

 flavigularis, Herpetodryas psammophis, Psammophis flagelli- 

 formAs, Psammophis flavigularis, Natrix flagelliformis, Natrix 

 mycterizans, Natrix filiformis, Coluber flagellum, Coluber filifor- 

 mis. Coluber mycterizans. Coluber flagelliformis. Coluber flagelli- 

 formis testaceus. Coluber testaceus, Anguis flagelliformis. 



Description. — Snout projecting. Rostral nearly as deep as broad, well 

 visible from above and excavated below. Internasals small, anterior 

 margin convex. Prefrontals narrow behind, wide in front, the outer 

 posterior angle just meeting the anterior angle of the superciliarles. 

 Frontal narrow behind, one and one-fourth as long as broad, equal 

 to its distance from the end of the snout. Superciliarles broad, pointed 

 in front. Parietals a little longer than the frontal, and wide. Ante- 

 rior nasal larger than the posterior, with the nostril between them. 

 Loral one. Anteorbitals two, lower one small. Postorbitals two. 

 Upper labials eight, fourth and fifth entering the eye, fifth and seventh 

 the largest. Lower labials nine, fifth the largest. Four labials in con- 

 tact with the anterior chin shield. Posterior chin shield as long as or 

 a little longer than the anterior. Head distinct from the body. Eyes 

 large, body and tail very long and slender. Dorsal scale rows seven- 

 teen, smooth. Ventrals obtusely angulate, 182-211. Anal divided. Sub- 

 caudals 80-112 pairs. 



Color. — The color above is yellowish to dark brown, and much darker 

 anteriorly. Lower labials occasionally with white streaks or dots. 

 Belly yellowish, shaded with dusky on the posterior edge of the ven- 

 trals. These shades become wider towards the sides. 



A specimen with two lorals on each side, a fine male, has the poste- 

 rior of the back pinkish, with the same color, even more intense, on 

 the belly. Younger specimens have a reddish brown color with cross 

 bands on the back. The anterior part of the belly is yellowish, with 



