828 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



I present a synopsis of the principal characters in the following 

 table. These neotropical species are included in it. 



I. One plate in the first row of temporals. Scales in 25 rows, 11 keeled; caudal 



scutelUe?. Head not banded; belly partly spotted; brown spotted 

 above C. confinis Baird and Girard. 



II. Two plates in the first row of temporals. 



a. Parietal jilate shorter than muzzle, measured from front of frontal plate. 



About nine rows of keeled scales; caudal scutellje not over 68; head not 

 banded; above with rounded black spots; belly tessellated with 



black C. vulpinus Baird and Girard. 



a a. Parietal plate longer than or equal muzzle. 

 /3. Eight superior labials. 



Scales smooth; head not banded; belly not spotted; above with wide 

 red spots, which are crossed by four longitudinal bands. 



C. rosaceus Cope. 

 Five rows of scales weakly keeled; scutelliu not exceeding 71; above 

 with angular red spots; head banded; belly tesselated. 



C, guftatiis Linnaeus. 

 About 13 rows of keeled scales; scutellte not exceeding 102; above with 

 four longitudinal bands, the median pair often connected by spots; 

 head not banded; belly jiale, obscurely clouded, 



C. quadrivittatns Holbrook. 



Keeled rows 7 to 11; scutelliB not over 96; above with brown spots 



angular auteriorly; elongated spots on sides; head not banded in 



adult; belly clouded C. spiloides Dum(?ril and Bibron, 



Keeled rows 17; scutelliB not above 92; above black or brown, without 

 or with darker spots; head not "banded; belly very darkly clouded. 



C. ohsoletus Say. 

 /? fd. Ninr superior labials. 



Five rows of scales keeled; scutellas 99; postgeneials transversely 

 divided; above with narrow transverse spots, below clouded; pre- 

 frontal and postorbital headbands C. iairdii Yarrow. 



III. Three plates in first row of temporals. Keeled rows 15 ; scutelhe 77 ; dorsax 

 spots 29, longer; parietal and prefrontal headbands obscure; no jiostocular band; 

 belly clouded C. lotus Baird and Girard. 



Scales smooth; scutellje 78; dorsal spots shorter, 33-45; headbands, with post- 

 ocular distinct ; belly tesselated C. emoryi Baird and Girard 



Scales in 27-29 rows; nine superior labials; dorsal and lateral spots large and 

 close together, not becoming obsolete; head red above with light postocular 

 baud, and spot on nape C.Jlavlrufus Cope.' 



Scales in 31-33 rows; eight other labials; dorsal and lateral si)ots smaller and 

 separated; three bands behind frontal region, all markings disappearing at 

 maturity C rautabilis Cope.'^ 



IV. Four plates in first row of temporals. 



Scales in 35 rows; two or three loreals; eight upper labials; dorsal and lateral 

 spots smaller, separated; three longitudinal bands from frontal region. 



C. triaspis Cope.'' 



As regards the characters above enumerated, I will remark that in 

 a single specimen of the C. spiloidis there is a rudimeutal third temi)o- 

 ral in the first row on each side, one of which is intercalated between 

 the two postoculars. In some specimens of G. guttatus there are uo 



' Coluher faviriifus Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1866, p. 219; Mexico. 



■2 Coluber mutahilis, Cope, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc, 1884, p. 175; Mexico and Guatemala. 



^Coluber iriasjns, Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat, Sci. Phila., 1866, p. 128; Belize. 



