28 SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS. 



tals two (2 — 3). Temporals 1-|- 2. Labials seven (7 — 8). Eye over third 

 and fourth, fifth and sixth larger. Infralabials 10 (9 — 11), fifth and sixth 

 larger, posterior very small. Submentals two pairs, hinder larger. Scales 

 keeled, truncate or notched at the end, in 19 rows (19 — 21 var. vaJidiis), 

 dorsal narrow, outer broad, faintly keeled. Ventrals 140 — 1.50. Anal 

 bifid. SulH'audals 64 — 80 pairs. 



lleddish-brown, more or less olive, with a band of light color from the 

 rostral along the upper labials the first and second rows of scales on the 

 flank; below this on the first row and ends of the ventrals there is a nar- 

 row brown space. The light bands are usually margined with a dark line. 

 Anteriorly the belly is yellowish, more or less mottled with olive, or bear- 

 ing two lines of olive near the middle; posteriorly the ventrals are olive, 

 with or without a narrow space of yellow in the middle. Chin, thront, and 

 labials light yellow. With or without verteljral and lateral narrow lines 

 of brown. In Kentucky specimens these lines arc almost obsolete. Bright 

 fresh ones just taken from the water have the appearance of being striped 

 longitudinally, above and below, with narrow bands, the dark separated by 

 lighter of about the same Avidth, which do not form very marked contrasts, 

 if we except the light stripe on the flank. South Carolina to California 

 and Mexico. 



riff/dm. Dorsal vittae distinct; ct)lors dark. Southeastern United States. 

 grahamii. Vittae distinct; bands of yellow on the flank; a light band on 



the middle of the back; belly yellow. Texas. 

 validus. Vittae obsolete; light lu'ownish ash above; belly uniform yel- 

 lowish. California to Mexico. 



Tropidonotus KiRTLANDir, p^. I, Jig. 3. 



Recixa KiitTi.AXDii K'l'iiii.icotf, 1856, I'r. Ac. N. Sc., Phil, 95. 



Small. Moderately stout, tapering little to head and tail, belly broad, 

 back slightly com})ressed; bead .small, sub-oval, little larger than the 

 neck, depi'csscd, crown convex, snout short, rounded; tail short, about one 

 fifth of the total, tapering regularly to the tip. Eye medium, pupil round. 

 Mouth-cleft deej), curved. Head-shields nine. Parietals and frontal large. 

 Prefrontals limad, reacliing down the side of the face. Rostral broad, 

 low. Nasal divided. A loreal. One anteorbital. Postorbitals two. Tem- 

 porals 14-2. Lal)ials 6, eye over third and fourth, fifth and sixth larger. 

 InfraUibials 7 (7 — S), fifth and sixth larger. Submentals two pairs, sub- 

 equal. Scales keeled, in 19 rows, dorsal narrow, truncate, outer and caudal 



