102 ON TEXAN REPTILES. 



a variety. On individuals there is considerable variation 

 in the width of the lower edge of the second labial ; in 

 cases it approaches an acute angle at the mouth, Avhere in 

 others it presents a broad margin. But one of the labials 

 enters the orbit. On a specimen in the Museum of Com- 

 parative Zoology the second labial presents a sharp angle 

 downward but does not reach the mouth. Mr. Wamsley's 

 specimens show the tail to be dark and the bands to be 

 almost obsolete on the backs of the larger ones but very 

 distinct on the young. The band behind the eye is dis- 

 tinct on the small ones ; with age it becomes indistinct on 

 its upper edge. 



Baird and Girard give 145 scutes for A.pugnax and 140 

 for A. piscivorus ; our highest number is 137. 



Elaps fulvius Linn. ; Cuv. 



Three specimens. Ventrals 207, 212, and 213 ; sub- 

 caudals 40, 41, and 42, bifid; labials 7; infralabials 7. 

 On one the yellow bands number 24 -f- 3, on each of the 

 others 22 -|- 3. One red band is nearly as wide as one 

 black plus two yellow ones. The tail is black and yellow 

 only. The lengths are 22 -f 3, 19-5 + 2-75, and 17-5 + 

 2-5 inches. 



Compared with others from the southern states east of 

 the Mississippi, these specimens show plainly that Elaps 

 tristis of Baird and Girard was founded on insufficient 

 grounds. They are not distinguished b}^ the shape of the 

 heads. On a series from South Carolina the scutes num- 

 ber 204, 206, 208, 211, and, on a large female, 222. 

 Others from Florida have 208, 209, 209, 210, and 225; 

 one from Georgia has 208 ; and one from Alabama has 

 211. 

 Elaps tenere B. & G. 



A single specimen in the collection may be placed in 



