CROCODILIANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 735 



sometimes no distinct internasal pUites. One nasal, nostril in the mid- 

 dle. No anteorbital. Orbit bounded in front chiefly by the loreal, which 

 is largo, and slightly by the prefrontals. Scales smooth. Postabdom- 

 inal scutella bifid. Subcaudals divided. 



This genus is the North American representative of the neotropical 

 Rhabdosoma and the typical forest burrowers. The species are gener- 

 ally found under stones, and under and in rotten logs, and under the 

 bark, where they readily make their way, forcing their sharp muzzle 

 into narrow places with much muscular strength. 



Cari>}iophiops has exactly the plate and scale formula oi Ahastor^ but 

 the hemii)enis is simple and not bifurcate. It resembles that of Aha.slor, 

 however, in having the sulcus bifurcate, and the apex furnished with 

 calyces in moderate number. 



The two species of the genus difter as follows: 



Temporal scales 1-2; light color of belly uot extending to third row of scales; back 

 paler ('. amwnus. 



Temporal scales 1-1; light color of belly extending to third row of scales; back 

 darker C. verntis. 



CARPHOPHIOPS AMCENUS Say. 



Carphophia amuiia Dumkril and Bibron, Erp. G6n., VII, 1854, p. 132. — Glnther, 

 Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mas.., 1858, p. 17. — Jax, Icon. Gen. Ophid., Pt. 12., pi. ii, 

 ligs. 4, 4B. — BouLEXGER, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus., II, 1894, p. 324. 



Cohiber amonus Say, Jouru. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., IV, 1825, p. 237. — Cope, Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1860, p. 78.— Storer, Rept. Mass., 1839, p. 226. 



Cahiniuria amnna Schlegel, Essai Phys. Serp., 1837, p. 31, pi. i, figs. 19, 20. 



Urackyorrhos amocnus IIolbrook, N. Amer. Herpt., Ill, 1842, p. 115, pi. xxVii. 



Celuia anucna Baird and Girard, Cat. N. Amer. Kept., 1853, p. 129. 



Celuta helena' Kenxicott, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1859, p. 100. 



Dorsal scales in thirteen rows. Head small; frontal plate hexagonal, 

 nearly as broad as long. Internasals angular, one-third the size of 

 prefrontals, which are likewise augular, and enter posteriorly into the 

 upper portion of the orbit in front. Parietals proportionally large. 

 l\ostral l)road and well developed. Nasal single, nostril in the middle 

 of the anterior half. A large loreal forming with the prefrontal the 

 anterior part of the orbit. A quadrangular and elevated postorbital. 

 Superciliaries very small and narrow. Snout i)rotruding. Eyes circu- 

 lar, over the commissure of the third and fourth labial. Upper labials 

 five, fifth largest. Inferior labial six, third largest. Temporal shields 

 well developed, two in the vertical row behind the first temporal and 

 liist upper labial. 



Body very glossy, subcyliudrical. Tail short, tapering into a point. 

 Scales rhomboidal, broad, all perfectly smooth. Outer row somewhat 

 larger. 



Above uniform chestiuit-brown, opalescent; bright salmon color in 

 life beneath. 



In nearly half the specimens the internasal scuta are wanting. This 

 condition was supposed by Kennicott to indicate a distinct species 



