1888 -] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 385 



prefrontal plates inclusive. The body is scarlet, banded with twenty- 

 two pairs of jet black rings, with a white ring between each pair of 

 black. These rings do not completely surround the body, as in Osceola 

 elapsoidea, but the lower part of the anterior ring of one pair is contin- 

 ued within the margin of the gastrosteges, with the posterior ring of 

 another pair ; but always at a considerable distance on each side of the 

 middle line. 



The belly is marked with a single series of median black spots, which 

 are opposite the spaces between the dorsal saddles, or opposite the yel- 

 low rings. These spots represent the confluent lateral spots of the 0. 

 d. doliatus, clericus, etc., as shown in the analytical table of the sub- 

 species. Their complete fusion with the black rings, and the oblitera- 

 tion of the lateral crossing lines of the saddle spots, would give us the 

 0. d. annulatus. The division of these median spots on the middle line, 

 and their transposition to the sides, with the elevation of the lateral 

 closing lines of the saddles to a point above the gastrosteges, would 

 give us the 0. d. doliatus. 



This subspecies has not been previously recognized, but its validity 

 is well sustained by fifteen specimens in the U. S. National Museum. 



Three or four partly distinct types of head coloration are among these 

 specimens. In 13008, 12925, and 8345 the front is black to the end of 

 the muzzles. In 1846, 2296, and 4291 the end of the muzzle only is red. 

 In 303 and 7850 the top of the head is reddish brown, and superciliary 

 spots are present; and in 13361, 13380, and an unnumbered specimen 

 the top of the head is a uniform red or reddish-gray. 



4291 : scales 21, 7 : scuta 210 + 1 + 44 : total length 692, tail 95 mm . 



13380 : scales 21, 7 : scuta 209 + 1 + 48 : total length 762, tail 115 mm . 

 (Type.) 



OpMbolus doliatus syspilus Cope. 



Republican River, Kansas Dr. W. A. Hammond. F. S. Army... 



Fort Towson, Ark Dr. L. A. Edwards, D". S. Army 



Prairie Her Rouge, La i James Fairie ■. 



New Orleans, La I Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, U. S. Army 



do do 



do do 



Georgiana, Fla G. Witterield 



Apache, Ariz H. W. Henshaw 



Louisiana ; .J.W.Wallace 



Independence, Mo Dr. J. G. Cooper 



Abbeville, S. C 



Wheatland, Ind I Robert Ridgwav 



Richland, 111 



Alcoholic. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 

 Do. 



.do Alcoholic (type). 



A specimen is in my private collection from Fort Harker, Kans. 



Ophibolus doliatus parallelus, siibsp. nov. 



Scales in twenty-one rows, rather short and wide. Head distinct, 

 muzzle not prominent. Rostral plate very little visible from above. 

 Muzzle short. Frontal wide ; occipital nearly as loDg as frontal and pre- 

 frontals. Loreal well developed, longer than high; oculars 1-2; tem- 

 porals 2-2-3. The seven superior labials are all higher than long; the 

 Proc. K M. 88 25 Q^LS^itej . 



