814 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



skin between the scales dark, beneath yellowish, blotched with black; 

 anteriorly the blotches are in the form of two quite contiguous rows of 

 broad, mottled spots, which become broken posteriorly, and overspread 

 the abdomen; anteriorly these are dark brown, posteriorly they are 

 lighter and tinged with red; the tail is immaculate, reddish white. A 

 narrow yellow line along the contiguous edges of the abdomen and 

 outer dorsal rows. The fourth row of scales with the adjacent edges 

 of the third and fifth, are yellowish white, with a well-defined black 

 line through the center of the former. Down the center of all the 

 rows as well as the fourth, is a black line, most intense on the first and 

 third rows. At successive intervals along the back are seen broad, 

 transverse light bands, produced by the obliteration of the black line 

 in the fourth row, and by all the doi^sal scales between the light lines 

 being yellowish white, with more or less of purplish black toward the 

 tips. There are about eight of these'dorsal marks on the anterior 

 three-fifths of the body, the first being indicated by a light bar on the 

 nape. 



The following scutal formula and measurements are given by Baird 

 and Girard, the latter in inches: 



Gastrostegea. TJrosteges. Total length. Tail. 



Between Indianola and El Pa8o, Texas 203 + 1. 149. 65i. 22 



Do 204 + 1. 152. 65. 22 



Howard Springs, Texas 206 + 1. ? 61|. ITf" 



The above specimens are adult. The relative lengths of the tail in 

 two of them are: Cat. No. 1970, two and twelve- thirteenths in total 

 length; Cat, No. 1971, two and nine-tenths in total length. 



They differ in coloration only in the degree of paleness of the longi- 

 tudinal stripes and cross-shades, the colors being less contrasted in 

 some than in others. 



Although this species has the scale formula, and some resemblance 

 in coloration to the Z. twniatus, I can not now refer it to that species. 

 The head is elongate, with narrow protuberant muzzle more like the Z. 

 fiagellum and Z. piceus than the Z. tcvniatus and Z. lateralis. Tbe 

 Z. ornatus displays the unusual peculiarity of a striped species with a 

 tendency to become annulate. 



Zamenia ornatus Baird and Girard. 



