100 MASTICOPHIS. 



the 6th labial is not in contact. Dorsal scales broader than in Bas- 

 canton constrictor, their sides perfectly straight, slightly truncate, 

 with the corners rounded. Exterior row largest, rest gradually di- 

 minishing. Scales on the tail widely truncate. 



The general color, both above and below, may be described as a 

 dull straw-yellow, tinged with light olivaceous brown above. This 

 latter tint exists in the form of a shading on the centres and towards 

 the tips of the scales, leaving the bases yellowish. The proportion 

 of brown increases towards the back, and in older specimens some- 

 times suppresses the yellow. In all instances a darker shade is seen 

 towards the tip of each scale. The skin between the scales is yel- 

 lowish. The scutellas anteriorly exhibit each two rather large brown- 

 ish blotches, one on each side of the median line, constituting two 

 rows on the abdomen, which fade out posteriorly. Sometimes the 

 series are not discernible, the blotches spreading so as to constitute 

 a dark shade to the margins and exterior edges of the scutellse. The 

 posterior portions of the plates under, and on the sides of the head, 

 are similarly blotched ; the same tendency being observable on the 

 posterior edges of the plates on the top of the head, by the deeper 

 shade of the olivaceous brown there prevalent. Anteorbitals yellow. 



Betw.SanAntonio j ^ ^^^^ ^^ ^ ^^, ^^^ ^ ^ ^^^^^^ 



4' El Paso. ) ' 



" 19(3+1. 100. 17. 65*. 15*. " 



NeioBraimfels,Tex. 1^Q>+1. ^4.. 17. 69J. 15J. F. Lindheimer. 



„ „ , „ , f Capts. Marcy & 



RedRiver.Ark. t 191+2.— 17. 57*.— \ ,,^111 



' ( McClellan. 



In smaller specimens the blotching beneath is rather more de- 

 cided. In addition to the colors described, the back is crossed by 

 indistinct bars of darker, eight or nine scales wide and half a scale 

 long. This color is also seen on the skin between the scales under 

 the dark bars, where the bases of the scales themselves are darker 

 instead of light. There is a tendency towards stripes on the side : 

 first one of light brown, on the outer edge of the abdomen ; then an 

 interrupted yellow one at the junction of the abdominal scutelL-B and 

 outer scales ; then brown again through the centres of the rows. 

 This, however, is not very conspicuous. Sometimes the dark shades 

 on the sides are tinged with reddish. The obsolete transverse bars 

 are seen at intervals of one or two scales. 



