REPTILES. 7 
fourth, fifth, and sixth lower labials. The body is subcylindrical, a little more slender anteri- 
orly than posteriorly. The tail is short, subconical, and tapering to a point; it forms but the 
two-twenty-first part of the whole length. The scales are perfectly smooth, constituting fifteen 
longitudinal rows, larger in the outermost row, and smallest upon the dorsal line or middle 
row. The scales themselves are acuminated posteriorly. On the tail they are shorter, and 
truncated posteriorly, constituting seven rows upon its origin, and three only towards its tip. 
The abdominal scutellz are two hundred and eighteen in number: the preanal is bifid. The 
subcaudal scutellee are all bifid, and constitute thirty-six pairs. The tip of the tail is conical 
in the adult state, and somewhat acute in young specimens. 
Abd. sc. 217-++ 1. Sube. se. 18. Dors. rows 15. Total length 29 inches; tail 2,%. 
The body is reddish, annulated with jet black. The anterior part of the head from behind 
the eye is black, then follows a yellow ring, embracing in its width almost the whole length of 
the occipital plate, and just behind it the first black ring, embracing the posterior part of the 
head and neck, covering about six scales. There are fifteen more black rings hence to the 
tail, each covering about three scales. The intermediate red spaces embrace anteriorly four- 
teen scales, ten upon the middle region of the body, and eight towards the tail. There is an 
obsolete indication of a yellow margin to the anterior two black rings. The scales in the red 
spaces are tipped with black on the tail; the black rings are much wider than the red ones, 
there being three of each kind; the tip is black. The inferior surface is reddish-yellow sparsely 
spread over with small and irregular black spots. 
Specimens of this species wére collected at Taboga, on the bay of Panama, Central America. 
Plate XXXV, fig. 1, represents Hlaps nigrocinctus, of the size of life. 
fig. 2, a view of the head, seen from above. 
fig. 3, a side view of the head. 
fig. 4, the head, seen from below. 
fig. 5, shows the vent and the bifid preanal scutella. 
fig. 6, is a portion of the left side of the body, showing the shape and number 
of rows of scales. 
Figs. 2—5 are slightly magnified. 
> FAMILY OF OXYCEPHALIDZ. 
Genus DRYOPHIS, Fitz. 
Gen. cHAR. Body and tail long and slender. Cephalic plates normal. Eyes large. One 
anteorbital plate; several postorbitals. No loral. One nasal, with nostril in its middle. Ros- 
tral situated under the snout, which protrudes over the lower jaw. Several labials constituting 
the inferior rim of orbit. Dorsal scales smooth. The last two abdominal scutallee bifid; sub- 
caudals all bifid, 
Syn. Dryophis, Frvz. N. Class. Rept. 1826, 29 and 60. 
DRYOPHIS VITTATUS, Girard. 
Pratre XXXVI, Figs. 1—6. 
Spec. cHAr. Three postorbital plates, two of which constituting the posterior rim of the orbit, 
the third being placed behind them. Fifth, sixth, and seventh, or fourth, fifth, and sixth labials 
