758 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



The R. d. ignita^ has been found so far only in Costa Eica and the 

 Atlantic side of Panama types from the latter region, and so does not 

 come within the scope of the present book. 



RHADINiEA DECORATA DECORATA Giinther. 



Bhadincea decorata Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pbila., 1863, p. 101; Journal Acad. 



Nat. Sci. Pbila., 1875, p. 138.— Boulenger, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus., II, 1894, 



p. 176, description. 

 Coronella decorata GtUNTher, Cat. Col. Snakes Brit. Mus., 1858, p. 35. 

 BiadopMs decuratiis Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1860, p. 250. — Bocourt, 



Miss. Sci. Mex., Rept., 1886, p. 624, pi. XL, fig. 3. 



This handsome snake belongs to the Central American region, 

 ranging to Costa Eica, inclusive. It wanders into the borders of the 

 Toltecan subregion at a few points. Sumichrast says that it is 

 abundant about Orizaba. 



lihadinaa decorata decorata Giinther. 



RHADINiEA LACHRYMANS Cope. 



Rhadirum lachrymans Cope, Joum. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1875, p. 140; Bull. U. S. 



Nat. Mus., No. 32, 1887, p. 80, — Boulenger, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus., II, 



1894, p. 174. 

 Lygophis lachrymans Cope, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc, 1869, p. 154. 

 Dromictis lachrymans Gunther^ Biol. Centr.-Amer., Rept., 1894, p. 114. 



Scales in seventeen series, obtuse, pitless. Muzzle short; rostral 

 shield not as high as wide, not prominent. Internasals broader than 

 long; frontal broad, shorter than occipitals, with a right angle behind; 

 superior labials eight, fourth and fifth only in orbit, sixth only higher 

 than long. Loreal longer than high; oculars 1-2 and a pseudopre- 

 ocular, the anterior not reaching frontal; temporals 1-2. Inferior 

 labials large, nine; four only in contact with pregeneials, which are 

 shorter than postgeneials. Gastrosteges one hundred and seventy- 

 three; anals 1-1; urosteges seventy-eight. 



Color above, chestnut brown; ends of gastrosteges and first three 

 and a half rows of scales blackish, yellowish margined above from side 

 of neck to end of tail. On the anterior half the body is divided by a 

 yellowish band on the first and second rows of scales. Below and 

 labials bright yellow, the superior labials each with a dark brown spot on 

 the center, and the anterior inferior with the same. A brown band round 

 the muzzle which, j)assing through the eye, crosses the middle of the 

 last superior labial, and is continuous with a brown band on each side 



' Dromicus ignitus Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1871, ]»r201. Bhadinwa ignila 

 Cope, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1875, p. 140; Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc, XXXI, 1893, 

 p. 344. Cormiellaignita Qunthev, Biol. Centr.-Amer., Rept., 1893, p. 111. 



