620 NORTH AMERICAN SNAKES — COPE. 



isb shades at the bases of the scales. Several specimens (2082, 0101, 

 5;U7, 12038) have a small loreal below the usual cue. In three (2082, 

 4170, 9101) a second inferior ocular is formed from the summit of the 

 fourth superior labial i^late, so that the fifth only enters the orbit. 

 Un a specimen of this kind was proposed, the Phvmotliyra hexalepis, 

 which has also wider brown dorsal stripes than any other individual. 



The S. hairdii resembles tliis species considerably, but has the ros 

 tral plate much narrower, and with more closely appressed edges, 

 quite as in the *S\ mexicana. One or more of the temporal scales of the 

 inferior row is larger than in the S.jjraliamuv. The colors are darker. 

 The S.mexicana is a larger species than either of the others, and its 

 general appearance is a mixture of the Bascaniwn tcvniatum and the 

 B. Jiagelliforme. The head is longer and flatter than the other species, 

 and the temporal scales are in four vertical rows, the upper row larger. 



The Salvadora grahamicv ranges from Guaymas, Sonora (Cragin) ; 

 Batopilas, Chihuahua (Wilkinson) ; and (Jape St. Lucas (Xantus) on the 

 south, to Cottonwood CaQou, Utah, on the north. The locality given 

 on the authority of Yarrow, " Ogdeu, Utah," requires conlirmation, as 

 this is much further north than it is to be looked for. 



LIOPELTIS Cope. 



Proc. Acad. Phila., 1860, p. r)r,9 ; BiiH. U. S. Nat. Mns. 32, lfc87, p. .56. 



Chlorosoma Bd. and Gird. (Wagler), Cat. Serp. N. Amer., 1853, p. 108; not of Wagler. 



Cyclophis Giintber, Reptiles Brit. India, 1864, p. 227, 



Head distinct, scuta normal. Kostral plate not modified ; one nasal. 

 Teeth equal. Anal and caudal scuta divided. Scales smooth, unifos- 

 sate (in L. vernaUs). 



This genus includes colubriform species with a single nasal plate i)er- 

 forated by the nostril, with divided anal i)late, and with smooth scales. 

 They are of small and medium size, and are frequently of green color. 

 The headquarters of the genus is in eastern Asia and India, no species 

 existing in Europe or Africa, and but one in North America. Typical 

 Asiatic species are the L. tricolor Schleg., L. calamaria Giiuth., and L. 

 major Giinth. 



In North America the genus ranges the entire realm excepting the 

 Pacific and Sonoran regions. 



But one species is known in our fauna. 



Scales fifteen rows ; superior labials seven; postociilars two; temporals 1-2; green 

 above ; labials and below pale yellowisli green ; ratbor small L. vernalis. 



Liopeltis vernalis DeKay. 



Proc. Pbila. Acad., 1860, p. .%0 ; Jan, Icon. Gen. Otid., ii, 3 iv, Fig. 3. 



Coluher icrnalis MSS). Harlan, .Joiuii. Acad. Pbila., v, 1827, 361 ; Med. Pbys. Res., 183r>, 

 p. 142; Storer, Rept. Mass., 1839,224 ; llolbrook, N. Araer. Herpetology,ni, 1842, 

 79, PI. XVII ; DeKay, New York Fauna Rept., 1842,49, PI. xi,Fig. 22; Thompson, 

 Hist. Vermont, 1842, 117; Chlorosoma vcruaUs 15d. and Gird., Cat. 185:'., p. 108; 

 Herpetodryas vernaUs Hallow., I^roc. Acad. Pbila,, 1856, p. 213; Cyclophis vernalis 

 Giintber, Cat. Coluber Snakes Brit. Mns., 1858, p. 119; Cope, Check List Batr. 

 N. Amer., 1875, p. 38. 



