9C) BASC ANION. 



3. Bascanion Foxii, B. & G. — Body and head thicker than B. 

 constrictor. Tail shorter. Scales broader, the two outer rows having their 

 exposed surface higher than long. No adult procured. Immature speci- 

 men brownish olive tinged with blue : a series of transverse blotches on the 

 back. Sides spotted. 



This species is, iu all probability, the young of one which when 

 adult is entirely black, and as such confounded with the true B. con- 

 strictor. Its primary differences, when compared with individuals of 

 the same size of the latter species, are to be seen in the much greater 

 thickness of the head and body and shorter tail, this accompanied by 

 much wider scales on the back and abdomen. The vertical plate is 

 rather broader behind. There are two lorals, one above the other, 

 this probably not constant. The labials are higher. The scales are 

 all broader ; the two exterior rows having their exposed parts higher 

 than long. The posterior part of the body and tail more truly 

 cylindrical than on the other species. Color above brownish olive, 

 tinged with blue on the sides, each scale with a deeper shade of 

 brown towards the tip. A series of very obsolete darker transverse 

 blotches along the back. Beneath greenish white, with darker 

 blotches on the sides of the abdomen. A specimen from Pittsburgh, 

 Pa., probably belonging to this species, has three postorbitals and a 

 single loral. It has also 19 dorsal rows, but agrees in all the other 

 characters. 



Grosse Isle, Mich. 183+2. 79. 17. 22. 5. Rev. Chas. Fox. 



Pittshurgli, Pa. 177+1. 85. 19. 15. 3*. B. A. Fahnestock. 



4. Bascanion llaviventris, B. & G.— Above dark olive-green, 

 beneath yellow. Scattered spots of black on the sides and beneath. Head 

 across superciliaries narrower than distance from snout to end of occipitals. 

 Lower postorbital in contact only with the 4th labial. 



Stn. Coluber flaviventris, Say, in Lony^s Exped. Rock. Mts. II, 1823, 185. 



General characteristics of the head as in Bascanion constrictor, the 

 differences being difficult to express by description. Head narrow, 

 elongated. Greatest width on superciliaries less than half the length 

 of plated part of head. The lower anteorbital is included between the 

 2d and 8d labials, the upper orbital and the eye, only touching the 



