22 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



The descriptions in the following pages are based 

 upon alcoholic specimens, except in a few instances 

 where it is distinctly stated that fresh specimens have 

 been used. Alcohol does not preserve the colors of 

 reptiles well, so that living reptiles usually are more 

 brightly colored than the descriptions indicate. In the 

 determination of colors Ridgway's "Nomenclature of 

 Colors " has been used as a guide. Measurements are 

 given in millimeters, but may readily be converted into 

 inches by allowing twenty-five (25.4) millimeters to one 

 inch. The tail is measured from the anus. Limbs are 

 measured from the side of the body to the tip of the 

 longest toe, excluding the claw. Many of the outline 

 figures of the heads, etc., of snakes are after Baird. 

 Other figures are original, having been drawn by Miss 

 Anna L. Brown. I add here a glossary of some of the 

 terms used in works upon herpetology. 



Glossary. 



Abdominal. — Pertaining to the lower surface of the 



body. 

 Abdominal plates. — Gastrosteges of snakes; the fourth 



pair of plastral plates of turtles. 

 Alveolar sai'face. — Masticatory surfaces just within the 



cutting edges of the jaws of turtles. 

 Anal plate. — The large scale just in front of the anus in 



most snakes, sometimes divided; one of the last 



pair of plastral plates. 

 Anteorbital. — See preocular. 

 Ante7'ioo\ — Toward the head. 

 Antocular. — See preocular. 

 Antorbitar. — See preocular. 

 Anus. — The external opening of the cloaca. 

 Axilla. — The armpit. 



