CROCODIIJANS, LIZARDS, AND SNAKES. 



1057 



to the middle of the iiiiitli row, inchisive, le;iviiif^ a pale dorsal stripe of 

 groimd color one and two half scales wide. Chin and anal plate yel- 

 lowish. Xo parietal pair of spots visible to the eye, but traces appear 

 under a nuignitier. 



Measuremoits. — Total length, liSO mm.; tail, 7L mm. 



The reduction of the number of labial plates is not etfected by the 

 fusion of the fifth and sixth of the E. sirfalLs, as 1 at first suggested, 

 since the abbreviation of the i)late, which, though longer than those 

 adjacent to it, does not equal the two plates in the ?J. sirtaHs, and the 

 sutures of the last two labials in no wise correspond with those of 

 the other species. The normality of the structure is confirmed by the 

 reduction of the inferior labial series by two scales, all of which are of 

 perfectly normal form. The gastrosteges are fewer in number than in 

 any E. sirtalis or U. leptocephala 

 known to me, while the number of 

 urosteges remains as in those species. 

 The inferior scale of the second row 

 of temporals is almost obliterated on 

 one side. The absence of spots on 

 the gastrosteges distinguishes it from 

 most of the subspecies of E. sirtalis. 

 The general form is that of Tropi- 

 docioninm, and the distinctness of the 

 two nasal plates is the only external 

 feature which separates it from that 

 genus. It is one of the forms — of which several are now known — 

 which, while retaining the general features of the water snakes, have 

 adopted a terrestrial life and more or less burrowing habits. 



Dr. Boulenger, in commenting on this species, supposes it to be a 

 E. leptocephala., questioning the correctness of the locality. There is, 

 however, no mistake as to this latter point. It has a superior labial 

 less and twelve gastrosteges less than the smallest number I have met 

 with in that species. 



I'.\i((ini<t hrddnjsioma Cope. 



Fig. 296. 



KrT.KMA ISKACHYSTOMA COPE. 



Type. 

 Fiaiiklin, Venango County, Pennsylvania. 



Clli-.-tioimf K. D. Coi.i-. 



Number of 

 specimens. 



Lr.calitv. 



1 Franklin, Venango foiintv, Pennsylvania 



From whom received. 



^lisa A. M. Urown. 



The typical specimen is jjreserved in my private collection. 

 NAT MUS 98 07 



