492 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [AugUSt, 



A NEW SPECIES OF COLUBER FROM WESTERN TEXAS. 

 BY ARTHUR ERWIN BROWN. 



On June 18 a large and handsome Coluber was received at the 

 Zoological Gardens from Mr, E. Meyenberg, a resident collector 

 of the Society at Pecos, Texas, Avhich both in color and scutellatiou 

 differs greatly from any species of the genus previously collected in 

 the United States. 



The locality of its capture was given by Mr. Meyenberg as the 

 Davis Mountains, fifty miles southwest of Pecos, near the head of 

 Toyah creek. 



As it seemed unlikely that so large and striking a snake could 

 have hitherto escaped notice in a region comparatively well known 

 to collectors, description of the species was withheld and a liberal 

 reward was offered for additional specimens, the fortunate result of 

 which has been the receipt on August 13 of two younger, living 

 snakes from the same locality, presenting similar characters, and 

 a fourth specimen on August 16. 



All doubt as to the fixed characters and the place of origin of 

 these snakes being removed, the species is here described : 

 Coluber subocularis sp. nov. Plate XXIX. 



Specific characters : Head broad and flat on top. Body stout. 

 Tail short. Rostral broad and low. A row of small accessory 

 plates below the eye and preocular. Preocular in contact with 

 the frontal. Temporals small and numerous. Scales in 31-35 

 rows. Anal divided. Body color yellow, with a series of black 



H-shaped dorsal blotches with pale cen- 

 tres, the lateral arms being continued 

 by a paler shade, and forming a pair 

 of longitudinal stripes. Head and belly 

 unmarked. 



Type specimen. Xo. 13,733 Acad- 

 emy Collection, from the Davis jNIountains, Jeff. Davis county, 

 Texas. 



