1901.] NATURAL SCIEXCES OF PHILADELrillA, 67 



Contia taylori Boulenger. 



I. c, II, 265, PI. XII, fig. 3 ; Cope, Rep. Nat. Mus., 93G. 

 Nasal not divided; oue loreal. longer than deep; oculars 1-2; 

 temporals 1-1 (2); upper labials 7; posterior chin shields very 

 small; scales in 1-3 rows; ventrals 126-137; subcaudals 37-46; 

 length 270 mm. (tail 55). 



" Pale brown above, each scale darkest along the centre; upper 

 lip and lower parts white." 



Hab. — Duval county, Texas; northern Mexico (three specimens 

 known). 

 Contia episcopa Kennicott. 



Lamprosoma episcopum Keiin., U.S. Mex. Bound. Siirv., p. 22, pi 8, 

 fig. 2 (1859). 



This species has the scales in 15 rows; an undivided nasal; an 

 elongated loreal; 7 upper labials; oculars 1-2; temporals 1-2 (1); 

 ventrals 143-167; subcaudals 35-57; tail about one-fourth of the 

 length. Ranges from Texas to Utah, Arizona and northern 

 Mexico. 



Rosy yellow to ashy; no cross-bands, . . . 1. C e. episcopa. 

 Orange, with black cross-bands, 2. C. e. isozona. 



Contia episcopa episcopa Kennicott. 



I. c, 22 ; C. e. episcopa and C. e. torquata Cope, I. c, 601 ; C. ejnscopa 

 and C. torquata BouL, I. c, II, 265, 266 ; Chiouactis episcopa epis- 

 copa and C. e. torquata Cope, Rep. Nat. Mus., 938, 939. 



Ventrals 143-163; subcaudals 35-57. Length about 250 mm. 



Yellowish, reddish or greenish brown, sometimes with a yellow 

 dorsal stripe three scales wide; most of the scales tipped with light 

 brown; top of head like the body, or brown or black; belly yel- 

 lowish or greenish white. 



C. e. torquata Cope rests upon degrees of color intensity which 

 are admittedly inconstant in the two specimens known. 



Hab. — Texas and northern Mexico. 



Contia episcopa isozona Cope. 



Prdc. Acad. Phila., 1866, 304. and I. c, 601 ; C. isozona Boul., I. c, II, 

 266. 



Ventrals 158-167; subcaudals 50-52; orange or red with black 

 cross-bands which almost reach the ventrals, becoming complete 

 rings on the tail; belly whitish; snout red, rest of head black. 

 Length about 250 mm. 



Hab. — Texas to Arizona and Utah; Sonora. 



