550 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Aug., 



Contia episcopa episcopa (Kenn.). 



One received in April, 1902, has the loreal absent, the nasal reaches 

 the preocular on one side, and the prefrontal reaches the second 

 labial on the other. 



Diadophis amabilis B. & G. 



One from the Davis Mountains, 530 mm. long, is light ash on the 

 body including the outer row of scales; belly yellowish-salmon, be- 

 coming blood-red under the tail, the ventrals heavily spotted with 

 black. No nuchal collar. 



Ophibolus getulus sayi (Holbr.). 



Most of those received from Pecos are of the color pattern called 

 0. splendidus B. and G., with unspotted tracts on the back. I have 

 elsewhere^ given reasons for refusing to recognize this color-form even 

 as a subspecies. In the latest note which I have seen, supporting its 

 distinctness,^ the author says: "It is true that western examples of 

 what is usually called ' Ophibolus sayi,' especially those from Arkansas 

 and Indian Territory, approach the color pattern of L. splendida; but 

 in the first place it is only an 'approach,' and in the second place 

 they retain the normal number of 21 scale rows characteristic of 

 the form w^hich we have just named L. holhrooki" ( = 0. g. sayi). 

 Prof. Cope also says :® " I have not found any variation in the different 

 scale formulas of the two." The only comment to be made is that 

 these gentlemen can not have coimted the scale rows in any large num- 

 ber of specimens. I have before me at this moment five living exam- 

 ples from Pecos, showing more than an "approach" to the pattern of 

 splendidus, one at least even having the head unspotted except on 

 the snout; three of these have 23 rows, and two have 21. The 

 case seems analogous to that of Crotaphytus baileyi, already discussed, 

 and does not strengthen the evidence for splendidus, unless selected 

 individuals with 21 rows and usually spotted heads are to be called 

 0. g. sayi, and those with 23 rows and usually unspotted heads are 0. 

 splendidus, even when they occur side by side — which would not com- 

 mend itself as a conception of specific difference. 



Ophibolus alternus A. Brown. 

 The type, from the Davis Mountains, is the only one known. 



* Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1901, p. 76 



^ L. Stejneger, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.,\o]. 25, p. 152 (1903). 



« Report U. S. Nat. Mus., 1898, p. 919. 



