600 NORTH AMERICAN SNAKES — COPE. 



This genus is widely distributed over the warmer temperate regions 

 of the Northern Hemisphere. Several species are described by Jan 

 from Syria. The division of the nasal plate is never complete, although 

 it is present below the nostril sometimes. I suspect that the Sonora 

 of Baird and Girard is established on a species of this genus. They 

 state that the nasal plates are distinct, but on examination of the 

 typical specimen I find that this is not the case. The rostral plate is 

 not more prominent than in the G. ejnscopa, and the division of the 

 superciliary plate is probably abnormal. 



The three North American species ditter as follows : 



Scales in 17 series; superior labials 8; body compressed behind; black above. 



C. piig((a 



Scales in 15 series ; superior labials 7 ; body not compressed ; rostral rather promi- 

 nent; light, with or without black cross-bars C. episcopa 



Scales in 15 rows; superior labials 7 ; body not compressed; rostral not prominent ; 

 back brown, with pale borders; sides, levd colored ; oelow cross-barred.. C mUis 



The G.pygceais Floridian ; the C. episcopa from Texas and the Sonorau 

 region, and the 0. mitis is from (Jalifornia. 



Contia pygaea Cope. 



Proc. Acad. Phila., 1871, p. 222. 

 The belly is salmon red in life. Florida. 



Contia episcopa Keunicott. 



Cope, Check ListN. Amer. Batr. Rept., 1875, p. 36; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 20, 1880, 

 p. 21. Lamprosoma eplseopiim Keuu., U. S. Mex. Bound. S irv., ii, 18i;9, p. 22, PI. 

 VIII, Fig. 2. Homalosoma episcopum Jau, Icon. Geu. Ophid., i, 13, iv, Fig. 2. 



Scales in fifteen rows, all smooth: superior labials, seven; the orbit 

 bounded by the third and more largely by the fourth ; loreal small, 

 quadrangular, longer than high ; oculars, 1-2 ; anterior short, covered 

 above by sujjerciliary ; postoculars resting on fourth labial; fifth and 

 sixth labials equal, as high as long ; parietals large, long ; frontal longer 

 than wide; prefoutals transverse. Internasals partly separated by 

 rostral, which is not very prominent. Inferior labials six, first pair 

 meeting, fourth largest. Postgeneials extremely short. Temporals little 

 larger than body-scales, 1-2. Muzzle obtuse ; head scarcely distinct ; 

 eye small. Gastrosteges 1G3; anal 1-1 ; urosteges varying in Texan 

 specimens from 35 to 45. 



There are three well-marked color varieties, which pass into each 

 other. They are as follows : 



Ground color ashen to rosy, with the scales bi'oadly tipped Avith brown. A few ouly 

 of the median rows of dorsal scales may be red, and the top of the head may or 

 may not be brown C. e. episcopa. 



Ground color light yellow, tinged with brown above ; three median dorsal rows orange. 

 Top of head, from anterior border of frontal to near end of occipitals, black. A 

 transverse black spot commencing on the fourth scale behind the occipitals, two 

 scales long, and including the fourth row of scales from the gatstrostegtss on each 

 side C. €. torquata. 



