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CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



mens having frequently the lower number. The head varies in length, being 

 contained 3| to 4j times in the trunk. There are but two conspicuous series of 

 roundish spots on either side of the back, a third series of much smaller spots being 

 only occasionally present along base of anal fin. The spots on head vary greatly 

 in size, number and position. No arrangement can be assigned to these as normal 

 for the species. 



6i. Pisoodonophis daspilotus Gilbert. 



Plate VII, Fig. 12. 



Pisoodonophis daspi/otiis G\i.b-ekt: (Jordan & Evermann, 189S, p. 2803). 



Brownish above, gray below, the head and body usually thickly covered with black spots 

 smaller than the eye; these are smaller and more numerous on the head, fewer and fainter on the lighter 

 inferior surface, and become indistinct or entirely disappear on the terminal portion of tail. In one 

 specimen the head and trunk are spotted and the entire tail unicolor. In another no spots are present, 

 the upper parts being a uniform dark brown, the under parts lighter brown, a few dark freckles only 

 being present on sides of head. In all specimens the snout and lower jaw are blackish. 



The anus is near the middle of the total length, sometimes nearer the tip of snout, sometimes 

 nearer tip of tail. The cheeks are not greatly swollen. The gape extends behind the eye, its length, 

 measured from tip of lower jaw to angle of mouth, being contained 4| to 4f in head. The snout pro- 

 jects beyond the lower jaw for a distance about equaling diameter of orbit. Eye 2 to 2^ in snout, 

 i|^ to 2\ in interorbital width. Tubes of anterior nostrils about \ diameter of eye, directed downward 

 near tip of snout. Posterior nostrils under front of eye, concealed in the upper lip as usual. 



Teeth all bluntly conic, in rather wide bands on jaws and vomer; they are usually not disposed 

 in regular series within the bands, but each band has about the width of four series, and these are 

 sometimes distinguishable. The mandibular teeth become larger on approaching the symphysis, those 

 at point of mandible and those on head of vomer being much the largest teeth present. The patch on 

 shaft of vomer tapers backward to a point considerably behind angle of mouth. 



Origin of dorsal entirely behind tip of pectorals, its distance from snout g to -^ greater than 

 length of the head. The tip of the tail is compressed, acute, horny, used for defense. Pectoral very 

 short, from a wide base which slightly exceeds length of gill-slit. The fin rapidly narrows downward, 

 the longest portion contained 12 to 14 times in length of head. The width of gill-slit is about \ head. 



Tabic of Measurements in Millimeters. 



