26 SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS. 



nated with those of the dorsal series. A faded bund of dark color from 

 the eye to the angle of the mouth. The markings are subject to great 

 variation, often very indistinct or ol>solete. "Belly reddish, yellowish, or 

 white, more or less spotted or mottled with brown, lighter under neck and 

 chin. Canada to Mexico. 

 sipedon. Greyish or brownish. Rows of scales 23 (23 — 25). Maine to 



Sonora. 

 erijthrociaster . Reddish. Rows of scales 23 — 25. Southeastern U. S. 

 rhomhifer. Brownish, with transverse dorsal rhombs. Rows of scales 25. 



Tropidonotus taxispilotus. 



Holhrook, 1842, N. A. Herp. IV, p. 35, pi. VIII. 



Stout, tapering to head and tail ; head moderate, broader than the neck, 

 snout, narrow ; tail about one fourth of the total length, somewhat distinct, 

 slightly compressed, tapering. 'Head-shields normal. Rostral broad, low. 

 Nasal in two parts, nostril between. A loreal. One anteorbital (1 — 2.) 

 Postor1)itals 2 (2 — 3.) A single temporal in contact with the orbitals. 

 Labials 8 (7 — 9), the two preceding the last large. Infralabials 10 (9 — 11), 

 fifth and sixth larger. Scales keeled, notched at the extremity, in 29 — 31 

 rows, outer rather large. Ventrals broad, 130 — 141. Anal bifid. Sub- 

 caudals 80 pairs. Brown, with three series of dark blotches, separated by 

 spaces of nearly equal width. Lateral series little smaller than the dorsal. 

 Belly brownish, marked with yellow on the fore edges of the scales, more 

 yellow anteriorly. Southeastern United States. 



Tropidonotus cyclopium, 'pl. II, Jig. 4 



I>miiiril & Bibron, 1854, Erp. Gtni. VII, 576. 



Moderately stout, elongate fusiform; belly broad, back slightly com- 

 pressed ; head distinct, broad behind, short in front of eyes ; tail about one 

 fourth of the total, subtriangular, tapering. Head-shields nine. Rostral 

 l)r(iad, low. Nasal in two p.-irts, nostril between. Lower side of loreal 

 longer, upper short. One ante, two jiost, and two to tliree suboi'bitals. 

 Temporals large, a single one in contnct with the orbitals. Labials S — 9, 

 three preceding the last lai'ge, occasionally one or more in contact with the 

 orbitals. Infralabials 10 — 12. Submentals two pairs, anterior larger. 

 Scales notched at the end, ke(>led, in 27 — 33 rows, outer broader, fnintly 

 keeled. Ventrals 138 — 150. Aiinl l)itid. Subcaudals GO — 75 pairs. 



