1086 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1898. 



EUT^NIA MELANOGASTER Wiegmann. 



Euttvnin mvlanof/aslcr L'ovk, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc, 18S5, \>. 386. 



T7-opidonotns meJanoijaster Wieg.mann, Preisverzeicliuiss cler Siiugetli., Vtigel, 

 Anipbili., Fiscbc u. Krebse, vou Herru Deppeu. 8cliieclc in Mexico ges., Berlin, 

 1830, No. 167 (nomen nitdem). — Caisanis, Journ. f. Ornitliologie, 1863, p. 54 

 (novicii nndem). — Peteks, Monatsb., Berlin. Akud., 1864, p. 389. — Boulen- 

 <;er, Cat. Snakes Brit. Mns., 1, 1893, p. 225. 



Form rather robust ; head little, distinct from the body. Tail eutering 

 total leugth four and a quarter times. Scales keeled, except those of 

 the second and first rows, which are about as deei^ as long. The scales 

 are all rather wide, graduating from the first and second rows. Scales 

 of the tail with one or two tubercular serrations of the keels. Frontal 

 l)late rather narrow, but wider than the superciliaries. Parietals rather 

 short. Loreal longer than high; oculars, 2-3; temporals, 1-2-3 or 2. 



Fig. 310. 



EUT.-KNIA MELANOQASTER WiEOMANN. 



= 1. 



Lake Xochiniilco, Mexico. 



Cullection of E. D. Cope. 



Superior labials subquadrate, except anterior three, which are higher 

 than long. Geneials moderate, subequal. Scuta, 152-1-G5. The last 

 pair of urosteges form a shoe-like spine at the end of the tail. 



Color dark brown above with a trace of a lateral stripe of a paler 

 brown on the second and third rows of scales. The first row is darker, 

 and with the tips of the gastrosteges the bases are black. Below 

 yellowish-olive brown, darker posteriorly; the middles of the scuta and 

 scutella' black, this color narrowing anteriorly and terminating behind 

 the throat. Throat greenish yellow; superior labials similar but 

 browner. 



Measurements. — Total length, 494 mm. ; of tail, 115 mm. ; the specimen 

 rather small. 



The E. melanogaster is one of the few species of the genus which does 

 not possess bands. However, in one specimen I observed a faint trace 

 of a lateral band on each side. It is also variable as to the number of 



