982 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



Measurements. — Total length, 378 mm.; tail, 98 mm. 



Two specimens in my private collection from Volusia, Florida. 



In this form the striping which appears on the neck of the form com- 

 pressicauda is extended the entire length. It bears thus a i)artial 

 resemblance to the Natrix clarkii, which is not far removed in affinity 

 from the N. compressicauda. The form described as N.fasciata pictiven- 

 tris connects N. compressicauda with the N.fasciata. 



NATRIX COMPRESSICAUDA WALKERII Yarrov. 



Tropidonotus compressicaudus walkerii Yakrow, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., YI, 1883, 

 p. 154. 



The scuta of this subspecies are quite as in the last ; as in the form of 

 the rostral, internasal, and frontal plates and the relation of the orbit to 

 the superior labials. Its chief peculiarities are in its twenty-three rows 

 of dorsal scales, and in its coloration. In the latter it approaches the 



Fig. 257. 



Natrix compressicauda walkeeii Yarrow. 



= 1. 



Clearwater, Florida. 



Cat. No. 10681, U.S.N.M. 



N. c. compsolcema. Color above brownish yellow, crossed by numerous 

 brown crossbars which are as wide as the spaces which separate them — 

 namely, two scales — and which extend to the first row of scales. These 

 bars become wide on the part of the body near the head, and are split by 

 the ground color without forming bands, except two short ones which 

 form a V on the i^arietal plates. No postorbital band. Labials dusky, 

 yellow bordered in front; geneials the same, with a large median yellow 

 spot on each. Abdomen dusky with a median row of round yellow 

 spots, which soon become irregular in number and i^osition. Ends of 

 gastrosteges yellow on the anterior fifth of the length. 



Cat. No. 10681 (tail injured); gastrosteges, 137 + 1; length, 467 mm. 



In the absence of the longitudinal stripes on the superior surface 

 posterior to the head, this form differs materially from the typical 

 form. 



