20 



SYHONTMS. 



Coluber allegkaniensis, Holbk. N. Amer. Herp. I. 1836, 111, pl.xx.; and 2d e^- 



III. 1842, 85, pi. xix.— Dekay, N.T. Fauna, Kept. 1842, 36, pi. xii. f. 26. 

 Scotophis allegkaniensis, B. & G. 1. c. (1853), 73. 



This species, usually confounded with the common blacksnate, may be 

 readily distinguished by the carination of the central dorsal rows of scales, 

 as well as by the exhibition of the white edges of the scales when these are 

 separated. It attains a very large size ; greater, perhaps, than any others in 

 this country, except Georgia couperi, and the species of Piiyophis. It is 

 much more sluggish than the true blacksnake, and not at all belligerent wheD 

 provoked. It probably ascends trees in pursuit of food, as I have killed one 

 with a brood of five young jaybirds in its stomach. 



It is by no means, a common species, although its raage is quite extensive. 



Genus OPHIBOLUS, Baird & Girarr 



Gen. Char. Body rather thick : tail short. Dorsal rows 21 (in one group 

 23) ; the scales hexagonal, arranged in longitudinal series, broad, shorts 

 scarcely overlapping, nearly as high as long, all perfectly smooth and 

 lustrous. Abdominal scutelke 180 - 220 ; posterior entire : subcaudal 

 all bifid. Head, short, depressed, but little wider than the body. Eyes 

 very small. Vertical plate very broad. Postorbitals 2 ; the lower in 

 notch between the fourth and fifth labials. One anteorbital, like the 

 loral, small. Nasals 2, with the nostril between them. Upper labials 7. 



Ground-color black, brown or red, crossed by lighter intervals generally 

 bordered with black. 



Syn. Ophihohis, B. & G. 1. e. (1853), 82. 



10, Ophibolus getulus, B. (|- G. — Chainsnake. 



Spec. Char. Black, crossed by about thirty narrow continuous yellow lines, whicfi: 

 bifurcate on the flanks; the very obtuse angles embracing on each side a series 

 of very much elongated patches, and, in fact, by the union of the branches witb 

 each other, dividing the back into a succession of large black hexagons. 224,. 

 48, 21, 30^, 4i ( S. Car.). 



