86 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol.66 



PTYAS KORROS (Schlegel) 



To synonymy in Herpetology of Japan, 1907, p. 348, atlcl : 

 Zamenis korros Stanley, Journ. N. China Asiat. Soc, vol. 45, 1914, p. 27 

 (Taichowfu; Chekiang : Fukien ; Hainan). 



Mr. Sowerby has sent six specimens from Fukien, of which one 

 (No. 65385) is from Futsing, the others (Nos. 65395, 65410-65413) 

 from Foochow. 



MASTICOPHIS '8 SPINALIS Peters 



For synonymy see Herpetology of Japan, 1907, p. 349 under Zamenis sifinalis, 

 to which add : 



Sowerby, in Clark and Sowerby, Through Shen-Kan, 1912, p. 110 

 (Kansu). — Bedriaga, Wiss. Res. Przewalski Central-Asien Reis., Zool., 

 vol. 3, sect. 1, pt. 4, June 1912, p. 692 (Alashan; Ordos).— Stanley, 

 Journ. N. China Asiat. Soc, vol. 45, 1914, p. 27 (Chinwangtao and Pek- 

 ing) ; vol. 47, 1916, p. xiii (Tsangehow; Prikuhsian, Shansi). — Nikolski, 

 Fauna Rossij, Rept., vol. 2, 1916, p. 81 (Alashan; Ordos). 



1910. fPsammophis schokari Mocquabd, Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat., Paris, 1910, 

 p. 151 (Kucha, Sinkiang; oasis of Sachow (not of Forskal). 



Two specimens of this apparently rare though widely distributed 

 snake have been sent b}^ Mr. Sowerby. The first, No. 39335, was 

 collected at Tai-pei-cheng, 50 miles west of Ching-yang-fu, Kansu, 

 about 3,900 feet above the sea, on August 15, 1909. Its scale formula 

 is as follows: sc. 17; v. 201; a. 2; subc. 84; 1. 8; oc. 2-2; temp. |+2. 

 The frontal is separated from preocular, and fourth and fifth labials 

 enter the eye. Another, mutilated specimen (No. 59729) without 

 definite locality, but bearing the collector's number 370, has 17 scale 

 rows; eighth labials, fourth and fifth touching eye; two preoculars 

 and two postoculars ; temporals 2-1-3 ; frontal not in contact with 

 preocular. 



Whether the normal nimiber of supralabials in this species is 

 nine or eight, as mentioned in the Herpetology of Japan (p. 351), 

 is still an open question. Noting that the Alashan and Ordos speci- 

 mens examined by Bedriaga had eight supralabials, it becomes per- 

 tinent to inquire whether there may not be a northern form with 

 eight supralabials and a southern one with nine. This is an admoni- 

 tion to place all the data relating to the individual specimens of this 

 species on record. 



^ In view of the recent revival of the genus Masticophis by Professor Ortenburger axid 

 as Peters origixially described the present species as Masticophis spinalis, I have retained 

 this term without prejudice until further studies shall confirm the validity of this genus 

 and establish the propriety of referring the present species to it. The genus Masticophis 

 was instituted in 1853 by Baird and Girard, Cat. North Amer. Rept., pt. 1, Serp.. p. 98, 

 with M. flagelliformis as designated type. 



