34 



Form elongated and slender, with weak limbs. The length to the 

 axilla in the length to the groin from 3 to 3.5 times. 



The head is small and short, its width in the length to the groin seven 

 times. The snout is short and rounded. Eyes large and prominent. 

 Gular fold distinct, rising high on the sides of the neck. A distinct 

 groove runs back from the corner of the eye to the gular fold, and is met 

 by a groove rising from the corner of the mouth. The neck is distinct. 

 Mouth large, the upper jaw slightly projecting. Tongue large, oval, free 

 at the sides and slightly free behind. The vomero-palatine teeth in two 

 short, arched, backwardly converging rows, which do not extend beyond 

 the choan^e. Tfie parasphenoidal teeth in two patches lying close to- 

 gether. 



The body is cylindrical, without dorsal furrow, and with from 16 to 19 

 costal furrows, not including the one in the axilla, but including the in- 

 guinal. The limbs are short and weak, the outstretched hind legs 

 scarcely equal to half the distance from the snout to the groin. The 

 digits are short, the inner ones rudimentary. Tail equal to, or longer 

 than head and body. Total length 3.5 to 4 inches. 



Prof. Cope recognizes three varieties of this species, and these are 

 based principally on diflferences of coloration. In all three forms the 

 color below is whitish or yellowish, finely marbled with brown. On the 

 sides the brown predominates, until it covers the surface, leaving only 

 whitish specks. The middle of the back is variable. 



Middle of back without a red stripe, ashy to black. cinereus. 



Middle of back with a red or chestnut stripe, its borders parallel. 



erytlironotus. 

 Middle of back with dorsal stripe having dentate borders. dorsalis. 



When the reddish or chestnut stripe is present it is somewhat broader 

 than the inter-orbital space. Its central portion is usually finely marbled 

 with brown. It may extend on the tail to its tip. In the form dorsalis, 

 the stripe has deep indentations along its edges ; these sometimes come 

 opposite in pairs, when the baud alternately expands and contracts. In 

 other cases the indentations alternate, and then the band has a zigzag ap- 

 pearance. The variety dorsalis is furthermore said to have a shorter body 

 than the others, the length to the axilla being contained in the length to 

 the groin only 3 times, instead of 3.3 or 3.5 as in the other varieties. The 

 number of costal folds is given by Prof. Cope as 16 instead of 18, as the 

 others have. The variety dorsalis has been described from specimens col- 

 lected at Louisville. I have two good specimens taken at Wyandotte 

 Cave, not far from Louisville, which have the broad zigzag dorsal band 

 and seventeen costal furrows, counting them as Prof. Cope counts them. 

 In one the distance to axilla in distance to groin is 3 ; in the other 3.3. I 

 think, therefore, that the form is hardly constant enough in its characters 



