Cope.] l*^^ [Dec. 19, 



the genus, and the new species falling readily into the division I proposed, 

 confirm its propriety. Those with two internasal and two prefrontal 

 plates are true Elapomorphi. They are E. blumii Wiegm., E. wucliereri 

 Gthr., E. lepidus Rhdt., and E. mexicanus Gthr. The genus Apostolepis 

 has distinct prefrontal plates but no internasals. The species are : A. 

 d'orhignyi D. »fe B. ; A. flavotorquatus D. & B. ; JL. erythronotus Peters; 

 and A. assimilis Rhdt. In Phalotris there are two internasals, but only 

 one prefrontal. The species are : P. tricolor D. & B. ; P. hilineatus D. «& 

 B. ; P. lemniscntus D. & B., and the subject of the present description. 



Scales in diflfereut longitudinal rows, all rather short and wide. Muzzle 

 narrow ; rostral plate prominent, forming more than a semidisk in outline. 

 Internasals quite small, nearly triangular. Prefrontal wider than long, 

 not reaching labials. Frontal large, its parietal border as long as its 

 superciliary. Parietals elongate ; their median suture considerably ex- 

 ceeding length of frontal plate. Nasal elongate behind nostril, touching 

 the preocular, which is longer than high ; two small postoculars. Tem- 

 porals 1-1, the anterior very narrow in one specimen ; just reaching, 

 and in another not reaching, inferior postocular. Superior labials six, sec- 

 ond and third in orbit. Inferior labials seven, fourth and fifth very large ; 

 first in contact with its mate of the other side. Geneials well developed, 

 posterior pair equal to anterior. Gastrosteges, 211 ; anal double ; uro- 

 steges, 25. Tail acute. 



Color black everywhere, except a wide red dorsal band covering five 

 and two half rows of scales. In one specimen this band is divided on the 

 median row of scales by a black line ; in another specimen this line extends 

 but a short way behind the nape. A yellow collar with a black posterior 

 edge above. Sides of throat yellow ; head black. The free edges of all 

 the scuta, scutella and black scales, are white. 



Total length, M. .311 ; of head to canthus oris, .006 ; of tail, .025. 



Opheomorphus doksalis Peters. Monatsberichte Berlin Akademie, 

 1863, p. 283. Abundant. 



Opheomorphus fuscus, sp. nov. 



Scales in seventeen rows, all but those of five median rows as wide as, 

 or wider than, long. Muzzle moderately obtuse, internasals and pre- 

 frontal subquadrate ; frontal and superciliary plates elongate ; parietals 

 moderate, bifurcate posteriorly. Frontal narrowing posteriorly ; pos- 

 terior angle less than right. Loreal higher than long. Preocular not 

 reaching frontal ; two postoculars, both in contact with the single tem- 

 poral of the first row. Other temporals two, the superior long, leaving but 

 two small ones for contact with the parietals behind, one of them being 

 median. Eight superior labials, fourth and fifth entering orbit ; sixth 

 and seventh higher than long. Inferior labials ten, sixth the largest and 

 the last one in contact with the geneials. Postgeneial equal pregeneials. 

 Gastrosteges, 182 ; anal divided ; urosteges, 55. 



Above olive or yellowish-brown, all the scales with a blackish border, 



