Cope.] -"'O [Sov. 



26. Ophiboltjs polyzonus micropholis Cope. No. 14214. 



27. Herpetodryas melas, sp. nov. 



Scales in ten longitudinal series, all smooth, those of the median rows 

 larger than those of the lateral, and rather smaller than the parietal scuta. 

 Parietals rather short and wide, openly emarginate hehind. Nine superior 

 labials, all longer than high, the fourth, fifth and sixth entering the orbit. 

 Nasals well developed ; loreal square ; oculars 1-2 ; temporals 1-1-1. 

 Muzzle rather short, and eye large ; diameter of the latter equal length 

 from orbit to nostril. Frontal not much concave at sides. Inferior labials 

 ten, fifth longest, narrow, and the last one in contact with the geneials. 

 Postgeneials longer than pregeneials. Gastrosteges 158 ; anal 1-1 ; uro- 

 steges 139. Total length M. 1.210; length of tail, .470; length to 

 rictus oris, .029. 



Shining black, except on the superior labial scuta and anterior half of 

 body, which are cream-colored. The ends of the light gastrosteges re- 

 main black. Here and there a black scale has a white edge, and several 

 present this character distinctly just posterior to the angle of the mandible 

 on the neck. No. 14219. 



This interesting species is nearest to the Herpetodryas grandisquamis 

 Peters (Cope, Journal Academy Philada., 1875, p. 135), but differs in 

 having the scales smaller, without keels, and in ten longitudinal rows. 

 Peters placed the latter in Spilotes, but I have not adopted this arrange- 

 ment, since like the H. melas, it has a divided anal plate, and scales with- 

 out fossae in an even instead of an odd number. These characters indicate 

 clearly that its place is in Herpetodryas. 



28. Dendrophidium dendrophis* Shi. Herpetodryas poitei D. & B. 

 Two specimens (Nos. 14215-20) adult and half-grown. The latter has 



the coloration ascribed to this species, while the cross lines and lateral 

 spots are obsolete in the former. There are no markings on the head and 

 neck of the adult. The top of the head is red in the adult. Oculars 



* A species allied to the D. dendroph is was sent to the Smithsouian Institution 

 from Guatemala by H. Hague, which has not yet, so far as I am aware, received 

 a place in the system. It may be called Dendrophidium chloroticum. The scales 

 are in seventeen rows, of which four rows on each side are smooth on the ante- 

 rior part of the body, and only two smooth on the posterior. The pari etal plates 

 are a little longer than the frontal, which has straight sides. The eye is large, 

 its anteroposterior diameter equaling the width of the superciliary and frontal 

 scuta combined, and equaling the length of the muzzle to the middle of the 

 prenasal plate. Oculars 1-2. Temporals 2-2, all narrow. Superior labials nine, 

 the last three longer than high. Loreal large, higher than long; nasals rather 

 small. Gastrosteges 169; anal 1-1 ; urosteges, 117. Color above, including ends 

 of gastrosteges, green ; below yellow. On stretching the skin it is seen to be 

 black between tlie scales of the sides of every second or third row, in oblique 

 lines running upwards and forwards. Total length M. 1.018; of tail, .311; to 

 rictus oris .027. 



This species is abundantly different from the D. melanotropis Cope, but is near 

 to the D. dendrophis Schl. The muzzle is shorter than in our specimens of the 

 latter, and in those figured by Jan, and the number of keeled rows of scales is 

 less, nine to fllteen. The color is entirely different. 



