322 BULLETIN 17 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



very small, the first in contact with nasal, the second with nasal and 

 loreal; loreal large, longer than high; a large preocular with a sub- 

 preocular touching the fourth, fifth, and sixth supralabials ; eight 

 small scales bordering the eye posteriorly; sixth and seventh supra- 

 labials reaching the eye; eighth supralabial separated from eye by 

 the lowest postocular; no labial pits; temporal scales smaller than 

 the scales on the sides of the thicker portion of the body but a little 

 larger than the scales on the sides of the neck; about 12 or 13 lower 

 labials, the last two or three very small and similar to the throat 

 scales, the first touching its fellow behind the symphysial; 39 scales 

 around the body, those of the outer row alternately large and small, 

 all the remaining body scales being much reduced in size; 274 ventrals; 

 anal entire; 60 subcaudals (tail incomplete). 



Color (in alcohol) : Head purplish drab, becoming lighter on the 

 upper labials and on the neck; a few indistinct darker markings on 



Figure 92. — Epicrates gracilis gracilis: a, Top of head; b, side of head; c, chin. U.S.N.M. 

 No. 55025, from Rojo Cabo, Samana, Dominican Republic. Twice natural size. 



the temporal region and on the occiput; body fawn color, with a 

 series of about 70 roundish black spots about five scales long on each 

 side of the middorsal line. Each spot separated from the preceding 

 one by a light interspace about three scales in length; saddlelike 

 blotches often formed across the back by confluent spots of the 

 two series; on each side of the body two lateral series of smaller black 

 spots, the smaller series which is fairly regular in shape occupying 

 the first and second scale rows; the inner and larger series very 

 irregular, but usually on the fourth to the eleventh rows and some- 

 times anastomosing with the outer series; tail much like the body in 

 color pattern, except that the median series of spots are much smaller 

 and closer together, and the lateral series of spots are scarcely dis- 

 tinct; throat pale buff beneath; ventral surface light anteriorly, 

 becoming more and more suffused with pale gray mottlings pos- 

 teriorly until only the edge of each ventral and caudal scale remains 

 light; a few dark spots scattered UTcgularly near the ends of the 

 ventrals and on the caudals. 



