830 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



of 1-2-3 scales on one side, and 12, 3-3 on the other. The first is a 

 wide plate and different in form from what is found in the other species 

 liere described. Last superior labial large, nearly as high as the seventh, 

 and little less elevated than the sixth. Postgeueials smaller than pre- 

 geneials. Scales in twenty-five rows, rather wide, the first row wider 

 than the others^ eleven median rows keeled, mostly quite distinctly. 



Ground color (in alcohol) light yellowish, crossed above by thirty sub- 

 quadrate brown spots, which have in some places very slight traces of 

 a black border anteriorly and posteriorly. The spots are wider than 

 long, except the anterior four spots, which are longer than wide. There 

 is a series of rounded brown spots on the sides alternating with these, 

 of which the anterior form are longer than deep, the first forming a 

 short band. A very obscure series of spots on the ends of the gastro- 

 steges alternates with the lateral spots. Toward the posterior part of 

 the belly these become confluent, forming a dusky band on the upturned 

 extremities of the gastrosteges, as in the C. ohsoletus, and they form two 

 parallel bands on the under side of the tail, a character more or less 

 visible in other species. The nuchal dorsal spot sends anteriorly and 

 posteriorly from its angles short bands, the anterior not reaching the 

 parietal plate. There are no markings on any part of the head, which 

 is of a uniform yellowish gray above, and cream color below and on the 

 superior borders of the mouth. 



When the skin of the upper surfaces is stretched, the dark color of 

 the spots is seen not to cover the entire surface of each scale, forming 

 longitudinal stripes, which are distinctly indicated in the spaces 

 between the spots. 



Cat. No. 762; gastrosteges, 243-fl ; uro8tege8,(?) ; scales, 25; total length, 1114 mm. ; 



tail, (?). 



This species resembles in color characters the C. spiloides, but is in 

 its scutellation different from any other American species. The con- 

 tracted muzzle with small rostral plate, and the very small loreal, 

 together with the large temporals, are especial characters. 



It is not absolutely certain that this is the C. confinis of Baird and 

 Girard, the type specimen of which I have not been able to find. The 

 description of those authors agrees with it in the number of rows of 

 scales, and does not differ in any imi)ortant respect from it. It was 

 taken at Anderson, South Carolina. 



Coluber confinis Baird and Girard. 



