Garman.] -^7 o [Oct. 7, 



On West Indian Reptiles in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, at Cam- 

 bridge, Mass. By Samuel Qarman. 



{Read before the American Philosophical Society, October 7, 1SS7.) 



The following list includes the snakes, turtles and crocodiles of the 

 collection. A large proportion of them was collected by the writer, on 

 opportunities provided by Prof. Alex. Agassiz ; the remainder was 

 secured by purchase from different collectors. Among the species there 

 are a number not previously recognized ; the ranges of others have been 

 extended by the localities represented in the series. 



In the snakes it is found necessary to place more than the usual stress 

 on variation of the number of rows of scales, or of the number of scutes 

 in the ventral and subcaudal series, since the representatives of a single 

 species on one or another of the small islands may be distinguished by a 

 couple of dorsal rows more or less, or by a few scutes more or less on the 

 lower surface ; variations that would have comparatively little value on 

 the mainland, but which here derive importance from their fixity, a conse- 

 quence of isolation. Alsophis cinereus, as compared with A. rufiventris, 

 furnishes a good illustration. 



Typhlops richardi D. & B. 



A specimen from St. Kitts island has twenty rows of scales, in 321 -(-13 

 transverse series. In squamation it differs little from the species as de- 

 scribed from St. Thomas. 



Stenostoma albifroks Wagl. 



One taken at Trinidad has its scales in fourteen rows, in 194 -\- 19 trans- 

 verse series. It disagrees with others from Para in having two broad 

 shields cross the back immediately behind the first three of the median 

 series, which are of the average size. 



Boa constrictor Linne. 

 Trinidad. 



Boa diviniloquax Laur. ; Dum. & Bibr. 



On a couple of these boas from Dominica the transverse series number 

 sixty-five in each case. 



Ungualia melanura Schleg. ; Gray. 



Cuba. Scales in twenty-seven rows, the outer five of each side smooth ; 

 transverse series 214 -f- 41. 



Ungualia maculata Bibr. ; Gray. 



Cuba. According to Bibron this form has twenty-five rows of scales, 

 iu 200 + 35 to 40 transverse series. 



