864 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



as to depress the form <^>f the prenasal, a peculiarity I have not observed 

 in any other ISTorth American snake. Prefrontals not so long as their 

 posterior width. Frontal very wide in front, the lateral borders con- 

 tracting posteriorly so as to greatly diminish the posterior lateral angles 

 and to give the i)late a subtriangular outline in adults. It follows that 

 the superciliaries are triangular, with an oblique posterior outline. 

 Parietals a little longer than wide, subtruncate posteriorly. ]^Tostril in 

 a fissure, which extends obliquely downward and backward, render- 

 ing each of the nasal plates subtriangular. Loreal considerably longer 

 than high, with the superior border oblique downward and jiosteriorly. 

 Oculars 1-2, temporals 2-4, the anterior elongate, and bounding the 

 summit of the large seventh sui)erior labial. Superior labials eight, 

 fourth and fifth entering orbit ; higher than long from the third to the 

 sixth, inclusive. Seventh larger than usual, exceeding the sixth and 

 eighth together, longer above than on the labial border. This size 

 explains the absence of the usual second row of three temporals. The 

 inferior labials are peculiar for their large number and unusual form. 

 They number from thirteen to fourteen, and are all, therefore, deeper 

 than long. This is especially the case with those from the third to the 

 sixth, inclusive, which are produced in long points backward to the 

 geneial plates. The seventh is the longest plate, but is separated by 

 a scale from the geneial. Pregeneials of moderate length ; postgeneials 

 much shorter and narrower, and separated by 2-4 rows of scales. 

 Behind these there are three transverse rows of small scales, anterior 

 to the first gastrosteges. 



Cat. Nos. Gastrosteges. TJrosteges. Length. Tail. 



mm. mm. 



1722 217 + 1. 57. 917. 14.5. 



4266 218 + 1. ?. 876.' 



14176 213 + 1. 42. 710. 90. 



The ground color ;ibove is a grayish brown, growing paler at the 

 median line. This is crossed by from fifty-five to sixty-five transverse 

 brown spots anterior to the anus, which have the anterior and posterior 

 borders a little darker than their central portions. These extend over 

 twelve or thirteen rows of scales and are separated by spaces of one and 

 a half or two scales in width. On the side is a series of spots, each of 

 which is opposite a space, and is deeper than long. The scales of this 

 region have their centers brown shaded, so as to obscure the distinct- 

 ness of the lateral spots in some specimens. Belly yellowish- white, 

 unspotted. On the nape two wide longitudinal stripes extend from 

 the anterior transverse spot to the parietal plates. A blackish streak 

 from eye to angle of mouth. Labials unspotted in adults, but with 

 a spot under the eye in the young. 



This species is subject to some variations. Thus in Cat. No. 4266 

 there is a small inferior preocular. In Oat. No. 14676 there are only 



' To imii.s. 



