106 ON TEXAN EEPTILES. 



but 5 on the other, 139 veiitrals, and 37 subcaudals. 

 The length of a female, apparently adult, is 8-5 + 1"6 

 inches. 



A name meaning river snake, Potamophis, given by 

 Fitzinger in 1843 to Linne's Coluber striatulus, is certainly 

 not a very appropriate name for this genus. The next in 

 order of publication would be Haldea of Baird and Girard, 

 the only advantage of which would seem to be in that it 

 has no meaning atall. If both of these names were dropped, 

 the more applicable name, Conocephalus, given by Dameril 

 in 1854, would be the next available. 



Heterodon cognatus B. & G. 



In each case there are 25 dorsal rows and, with one ex- 

 ception of 10, 11 scales in the orbital chain. Two speci- 

 mens have 8 labials and 11 infralabials on each side; a 

 third and a fourth have 8 labials on one side and 9 on the 

 other; the third has 10 infralabials on one side to 11 on 

 the other, while the fourth has 11 on each side. Anal 

 and subcaudals all bifid. Scutes 139 -f- 44, 131 -f 49, 137 

 + 43, and 134 -|- 39. The blotches in the dorsal series 

 number 25 + 7, 25 + 9, 24 + 9, and 23 + 8. Form 

 and coloration serve to distinguish this snake readily fi'om 

 H. platyrhinus. The light color beneath the neck and the 

 tail makes it aj^pear as if both neck and tail were carried 

 off the ground. 



Lampropeltis doliatus Linn. ; Cope. 



Rows 21 in each case, scutes 201+ 49, and 201 + 47, 

 24 red bands on one, and 20 on the other. Labials 7 on 

 the first, 7-8 on the second; infralal)ials 9. This and 

 the two following species represent Ophlbolus of Baird 

 and Girard. 



Lampropeltis riiompjOmaculatus Ilolbr. ; Cope. 



Rows 25, scutes 208 + 52, and 207 + 51. Dark 



