CROCODILIANS, LIZAKDS, AND SNAKES. 005 



This specie.s is quite constant in its characters, but a few variations 

 occur. Thus there is but one temporal of the first row, and the loreal is 

 fused with the pot^tnasal on both sides in Cat. No. 15329. In Cat. No. 1G294: 

 there are twenty-three rows of scales. Cat. No. 17444, a young individual, 

 presents many anomalies. There is but one nasal plate on both sides, 

 and on one side there is a second loreal above the normal one. The 

 first and second superior labials are fused on one side, and all the supe- 

 rior labials posterior to the fourth on both sides. The inferior tempo- 

 rals of two rows are fused on one side, and there is but one above it in 

 the second row, so that the formula is 2-2. Other specimens of the 

 same size are entirely normal. 



OPHIBOLUS CALLIGASTER Say. 



Ophibohis cai/i(/a.s/er Cope, Check-list N. Amer. Batr. Rept., 1875, p. 37; Proc. 



r. S. Nat. Mus., 1892, p. 610.— II. Garman, Bull. Illinois Lab., Ill, 1892, p. 293. 

 Coluber caUigaster Say, Harlau's Med. and Phys. Kes., 1835, p. 122; Jonrn. Acad. 



Nat. Sci. Phila., V, 1827, p. 359. 

 Cohiher f/ultatuti Schlegel, Ess. Phys. Serp., II, 1837, p. 168; not of Linnams. 

 Abldbes tridnf/uJum var caUif/ aster IIallowell, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1856, 



p. 244. 

 Ophibolus evansii Kennicott, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1859, p. 99. 

 LampropeUls eaU'ujasier Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci-. Phila., 1860, p. 2.55. 

 Coronella craiisii Jax, Arch. Zool. Auat. Phys.. II. 1863, p. 243, fig. 3; Icon. G6n. 



Ophid., 1866. Pt. 17, pi. ii, fig. 3. 

 CoronrJIa iUjr'ma Ja.\, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys., II, p. 244. 

 Coronella caU'Kjaster Boulenger, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mus., II, 1894, p. 198. 

 Ophibolus irianguUis vars. callif/a.sfer and rhombomacidatus G.\RMAn, N. Anier. 



Kept., 1883, pp. 66, 156. 



Head rather elongate, little distinct, rather tiat. l^ostral plate little 

 prominent; frontal wide anteriorly, narrowed posteriorly; parietals 

 short, equaling frontal plate. Loreal longer than high; oculars 1-2, 

 the post oculars equal. Temporals, 2-3-3. Superior labials seven, not 

 much elevated, higher than long except first and sevenlh. Eye over 

 third and fourth. Inferior labials nine, fifth largest. Postgeneials not 

 quite as long as progeneials. 



Scales rather wide, in twenty-five longitudinal rowsj the first a little 

 larger than the others. Tail short. 



Light olivaceous-brown or gray, with a dorsal series of about sixty 

 sub(iuadrangular, emarginate, dark chestnut-brown blotches from head 

 to tip of tail, and two smaller lateral series on each side The dorsal 

 spots cover ten rows of scales transversely, and three longitudinally on 

 the anterior ])art of the body, and two on the posterior part. Their 

 anterior and posterior bordeis are more or less concave. Their border 

 is very narrowly darker colored with interruptions, and the ground 

 color is lighter next to them. The first row of lateral spots does not 

 reach the gastrosteges, and covers three to four scales vertically and 

 two scales anteroposteriorly. They alternate Mith the dorsals. The 

 inferior row alternates with those last described, and the spots are 



