DO rROCEEDIXGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [Jan., 



Heterodon simus I-- 



Coluber simus L., S3'st. Xat., Ed. XII, 375 ; II. simus 1]. and G., I. c, 

 59 ; Cope, I. c, (313, and Rep. Xat. Mus., 770; Boul., I. c, II, 156. 



Smaller than ^)/a^^/7ti/io.s; snout oioderate; maxillary teeth 10- 

 11; 8 to 9 scales, in addition to the azygous plate separating the 

 internasals and prefrontals; frequently a small subpost-uasal; 

 frontal as broad as long; 10-11 scales in orbital ring; labials 8; 

 temporals small ; 1 pair of chin shields; scales in 25 rows (rarely 

 27); veutrals 114-134; subcaudals 30-55. Length 400 mm. 

 (tail 90). 



Color usually grayish or yellowish brown, with the dorsal series 

 of spots blackish brown, separated by narrow interspaces usually 

 tinged with yellow; one or two series of small blackish blotches on 

 the sides; belly white or yellow, more or less cbuded with dusky; 

 two dark blotches on the nape, parietals blackish, the bar on pre- 

 frontals and post-ocular streak present. Tn some color phases this 

 form resembles both of the other species ; but may always be known 

 from jilatyrhimis by the small plates behind the rostral being from 

 4-10, instead of one or two; and from yia^icus by the presence of 

 two more scale rows and a much lighter abdomen. 



Hab. — Georgia and Florida to the Mississippi. 



Heterodon nasicus B. and G. 



I. r., 61 ; II. n. nasicus and //. n. Kennerlyi, Cope, I. c, 641, and 

 Rep. Xat. Mus., 712, 773; II. nasicus Boul., I. c, II, 156. 



Snout very short and much recurved ; maxillary teeth 8-10; 

 azygous plates as in slintis, sometimes 20 or more; 10-11 scales in 

 orbital ring; as a rule no inferior post-nasal; sometimes an addi- 

 tional loreal; upper labials 8; 1 pair of chin shields; scales in 23 

 rows; ventrals 128-146; subcaudals 32-45 (a specimen in my col- 

 lection has one or two subcaudals undivided). The largest I have 

 seen, came from Pecos, Tex., and measured 610 mm. (tail 78); 

 another, 555 mm. (tail 100). 



Grayish brown, sometimes yellow on the back; a doi'sal and two 

 lateral rows of spots, usually smaller than in sbnm and often not 

 distinct, sometimes the dorsal spots are only indiciated by a darker 

 shade; the belly is whitish with black blotches, usually entirely 

 black in the centre; three elongated black blotches on the nape; 

 an oblique streak behind the eye; a narrow band across the frontal 

 4vnd another on the prefrontals; parietals blackish. 



Ilab. — ^Fontana to Texas and Arizona; northern Mexico. 



