CROCODILIANS, LTZARDS, AND SNAKES. 



863 



at one time thought to be allied to Pitijophis \n view of the presence of 

 the two characters in (question, but the absence of the epiglottis aud 

 undivided prefrontals show that it is distinct. There are several minor 

 characters, not generic, which show that its affinities are not with the 

 species of Pityophis. Such are the peculiar forms of the inferior labial, 

 prenasal, and loreal plates, and the very fine bristle-like spicules of the 

 hemii)enis, in the American species at least. 

 Two species are known, which differ as follows : 



Scales in from 27 to 31 rows. Tail less than one-sixth the length. Brownish gray, 

 with numerous transverse brown dorsal spots, with alternating lateral spots. 



E. elegans. 



Scales 25-29. Tail more than oue-sixth th«i length. Adult with a pair of brown 

 8trii)e8 . R- scalaris. 



RHINECHIS ELEGANS Kennicott. 



Rhinechia elegans Copk, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc, 1885, p. 284. 



Arizona elegans Kenxicott, U. S. Mex. Bound. Surv.. II, 1859, Reptiles, p. 18, pi. 13. 



PiUiophis elegann Cope, Check-list N. Amer. Rept., 1875, p. 39. 



Form of moderate robustness ; head moderately distinct; tail short, 

 between one sixth and one-seventh the total length. Scales in from 



Fig 201. 



Rhinechis elegans Kennicott. 



= 1. 



Between the Arkansas and Cimarron Rivers. 



Cat. No. 4276, U.S.N. M. 



twenty nine to thirty-one rows, usually twenty-nine rows; inferior rows 

 not wide, median rows narrower, but not very narrow. Kostral i)Iate 

 prominent, viewed in profile, but not projecting when viewed from 

 above, its ])osterior angle separating the internasals for half their 

 length. The latter are longer than wide, and are decurved to front so 



