SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS. 39 



side from the nasal through the eye along the flank there is a black 

 band three or more scales in width. Below the black a band of yel- 

 lowish green a scale or more in width separates it from a second dark 

 band about half a scale in width; one or the other of these is often obso- 

 lete. Outer rows dull yellowish green. Belly uniform dull yellowish, 

 Mexico. 



Var. HEXALEPIS. 



PlIY.MOTIIYEA HEXALEPIS Cojjc, 18GG, Proc. Ac. N. Sc, Phil., 304. 



Is shorter, and has the loreal divided. 



Salvadora decuetata. 



PlIYMOTnYRA DECURTATA Copc, 1860, Proc. Ac. N. Sc, Phil, 310. 



"This species is distinguished by many features. The head is short- 

 ened and somewhat arched, the rostral plate very broad and free, entirely 

 separating the internasals. There is a complete annulus of scales ai'ound 

 the eye. The tail is "relatively shorter than in the known species. 



"Ground color light grey; a series of elongate parallelogramic brown 

 blotches occupies the dorsal region, from the nape to the end of the tail. 

 Labials and under surfaces unspotted. Length about 14 inches. This 

 serpent is remarkably diflFerent from the three already known representa- 

 tives of the genus. In these the orbit rests on the labials, and the color 

 is in bands." Up2)cr part of Lower California. 



Cyclophis. 



Giinther, 1838. 



Body slender, belly rounded; head ovoid, distinct from the neck; tail 

 long, tapering regularly. Eye somewhat large, pupil round. Teeth equal, 

 smooth. Head-shields nine. Loreal present or lacking. Nasal entire, 

 Orbitals 1 — 2. Scales smooth in 15 rows, or keeled in 17. Anal and 

 subcaudals bifid. 



Cyclophis vernalis, p?. Ill, fig. 4. : 



Coluber vernalis (De K.) Harlan, 1826, Jour. Ac. N. Sc., Phil., V, 361. 

 Cyclophis vernalis Gdnllier, 1858, Cat. Col. Snakes, 119. 



Moderately slender, subcylindri,cal, with flat belly. Head moderate, 

 distinct from the neck, sides concave in front of the eye. Tail rather 

 stout, near one third of the total, tapering. Eye medium, over the third 



