;iOS f/linois State Lfibor<cfori/ of Natural History. 



Dorsal scales in fifteen rows, all smooth. Ventrals 117-128. 

 Subcaudals, 24-37 pairs. 



Grayish or yellowish brown, uniform, or with from two to 

 four longitudinal series of black spots. Uniform yellow be- 

 neath. Spots of the back sometimes irregularly distributed. 



Not common. Cook Co. (Nat. Mus.), Union Co. (Mus. N. 

 W. Univ.). 



Oarphophis, Gerv. 



Gerv., D'Orb. Diet. Nat. Hist., 1843, III., p. 191. 

 8. Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., 1883, p. 99. 



Dorsal scales smooth, in thirteen rows. Anal plate divid- 

 ed. Rostral normal. Internasals present or absent. One 

 nasal. Loreal large, reaching the orbit. No anteorbitals. One 

 postorbital. Very small. Head not distinct from the body, 

 depressed. Tail short, terminating in a single acute nail. 



No internasals C. helen^. 



Internasals present C. amgena. 



Oarphophis helenae, Kenn. Worm Skake. 



Celuta helenae, Kenn., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 18(39, p. 100. 

 Carjyhopldops heUiirc, Davis and Kice, Bull. 111. State Lab. Nat. 



Hist., I., No. 5, 1883, p. 31; Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci., 1883. 

 (Jarplioplds Udemv. S. Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., 1883, 



pp. 100, 1(50. 



Small. Body cylindrical, maintaining its diameter well 

 toward the extremities. Head small, depressed, no wider than 

 the neck. Tail moderately long, its tip covered by a sharp 

 conical nail. A single pair of prefrontals, each of which forms 

 part of the anterior boundary of the eye of its side. No inter- 

 nasals. One nasal, the nostril opening in its middle. An 

 elongate loreal, forming part of the anterior rim of the orbit. 

 No anteorbitals. One postorbital. Supraciliary unusually snuill. 

 Frontal large, wide. Supralabials five, the fifth largest and 

 elongated. Six infralabials, fourth largest. Dorsal scales in 

 thirteen rows, all smooth and polished. Ventrals TZO-lLT). 

 Subcaudals 30-36. 



Color above from pale to dark olive-brown. Supralabials, 

 outer row of dorsal scales of each side, and entire ventral sur- 

 face, flesh-color. 



