23 



Genus CHLOROSOMA, Wagl. 



Gen. Char. Head elongated, ovoidal, separated from the body by a slen- 

 der neck : snout protruding. Cephalic plates normal. One nasal plate, 

 with the nostril in the centre : one loral : one anteorbital ; two post- 

 orbitals. Eyes very large. Mouth deeply cleft. Tail slender, between ^ 

 and ^ of total length. Scales all perfectly smooth. Postabdominal scu- 

 tella bifid : subcaudal all bifid. Color uniform. 



Syn. Cklorosoma, Wagl. Nat. Syst. der Amph. 1830, 185. 



13. Chlorosoma vernalis, B. ^ G. — Greensnake. 



Spec. Char. Uniform green; darker above, lighter beneath. Dorsal scales in fifteen 

 rows. 138-fl, 70, 15, 18, 5^ (New -York). 



SYNONYMS. 



Coluber vernalis, Dekat, MSS. — Hakl. Journ. Acad. Nat. So. Philad. V. 1827, 

 361; and Med. & Phys. Res. 1835, 124.— Stoeek, Rep. Rept. Mass. 1839, 224. 

 — HoLBR. N. Amer. Herp. III. 1842, 79, pi. xvii. — Dekay, N. York Fauna, 

 Rept. 1842, 40, pi. xi. f. 22.— Thomps. Hist, of Verm. 1842, 117. 



Chlorosoma vernalis, B. & G. 1. c. 1853, 108. 



This gentle and harmless species, which Dr. Dekay was the first to in- 

 troduce to the notice of the scientific world, is generally known as the green 

 or grass-snake. It is quite northern in its distribution, extending from Maine 

 to Wisconsin, and not hitherto found south of Virginia on the Atlantic coast. 



