96 SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS. 



NiNIA SIEBOLDI. 

 Elapiodes .SIEBOLDI Jan., 1862, I'milr. Icon. Gm. Ophid., II, 21. 



Elongate, subcylindrical, belly flattened; head not distinct from neck, 

 subconical, slightly depressed, narrowed in front; tail short, conical. Eye 

 small, pnpil ruund. Head-shields nine. Internasals very small. Pre- 

 frontals large. Frontal broader than long, supraciliaries much shorter. 

 Rostral small, little broader than high. Nasal divided. Anteorbital and 

 loreal fused. One postorbital. Labials six, third and fourth in orbit, 

 fifth largest ; in the specimen figured it is in contact with the parietal. 

 Infralabials seven, fourth largest. A pair of submentals, followed by 

 large shields. Scales lustrous, iridescent, carinate in the dorsal rows to 

 the tail, in 17 series, outer broader and smooth. Yentrals 146 — 154. 

 Anal entire. Subcaudals 34 — 38 pairs. 



Dark brown to black. Belly and throat white. Subcaudals darker at 

 the bases. Outer row of scales marked with lighter. Labials and infra- 

 labials little lighter than top of head. (Jan.) Mexico. 



NiNIA diademata. 



Baird & Girard, 1853, Cat. N. A. Serp., 49. 



All the upper portion of the trunk deep black ; with a white collar ; all 

 the ventrals black in their central portion and margined Avith white, form- 

 ing thus two white lateral bands. Labials six, third and fourth in orbit. 

 Rather more slender than other Niniae. Scales in 19 rows. Ventrals 

 145. Anal entire. Subcaudals 89 pairs. 



The essential colors are the deep black and the pure white. Thus the 

 under side of the head and the neck, which seems to be encircled by a 

 collar, are of a beautiful white, as also the sides of the belly and tail where 

 it forms a fine lateral band. The black covers the remainder of the body. 

 The head is twice as long as wide. Total length O"', 347; tail 0", 067. 

 Mexico. (B. & G.) 



Virginia, 



Baird A Girard, 1853. 



Rather small; body stout; belly broad; head distinct from the neck, 

 subconical, dei)ressed; tail short, thick, tapering to a point. Eye medium, 

 j)upil round. Crown-shields eight or nine. Internasals two or one. Nostril 

 anterior, in the anterior portion of the divided nasal. Loreal and aiiteor- 



