OPIIIBOLUS. 89 



the centre of the e3'e being in the centre of the commissure, not an- 

 terior to it. The vertical is as broad as long, and the occipitals are 

 but little longer than broad. The superciliaries are very short to 

 correspond with the minute eye. All these plates are shorter than 

 in the corresponding size of 0. cximius. The scales on the body are 

 much wider in proportion, and on the sides, where they are arranged 

 more in quincunx, owing to the less amount of truncation. Entire 

 body much stouter than in the allied species. 



The body is crossed by a scries of 38 dorsal blotches, the 29th 

 opposite the anus. They are much broader and larger than in 0. 

 cximius, and extend between the outer dorsal rows. These blotches 

 are chocolate, lighter on the sides, and distinctly bordered with 

 black J they are about five or six scales long. The intervals between 

 the blotches are mottled ash, or pepper and salt. On each side is a 

 second alternating series of black blotches, much smaller than the 

 dorsal, and extending from the exterior dorsal row on the edge of 

 the abdominal scutellae. Beneath yellowish white, with distinct 

 quadrate black blotches. The stripe from the eye to the angle of the 

 mouth as in 0. eximius. 



The body, viewed from above, appears encircled by a series of 

 black rings in pairs, enclosing a third of an ash-color. The tints as 

 usual are darker on the back. 



Clark Co., Va. 199. 49. 21. 36. 6f . Dr. C B. Kennerly. 



Mississippi. — — — — — Dr. B. F. Shumard. 



S. Opllibolus doliatlis, B. & G. — Red, encircled by about 22 pairs 

 of narrow black rings, each enclosing a yellow unspotted ring. Head red, 

 with the first ring of the anterior pair crossing the ends of the occipitals. 



Syn. Coluber doUatus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 176G, 379. — Gm. Linn. Syst. 

 Nat. ed. xiii, I, iii, 1788, 1096.— Harl. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. V, 

 1827, 362; and Med. & Phys. Res. 1835, 125. 



Coronella coccinea, Schl. Ess. Phys. Serp. Part, descr. II, 1837, 67. PI. 

 ii, fig. 11. 



Coronella doliata, Holdr. N. Amer. Herp. Ill, 1842, 105. PI. xxiv. 



Head rather more depressed than in the species of the other sec- 

 tion. The lower postocular, which is smaller than the upper, rests 

 in a notch between the 4th and 5th upper labials, lying longitudi- 

 nally against the latter. In many other species the contact is not so 

 intimate. 



