colubrid^e. — ex. 191 



Jek. V. P. about 150; striped Ekgina, 277. 



hhh. Scales 23 to 29. 



I. Snout without recurved keel at tip. 



to. V. P. 130 to 160 ; brownish, usually with cross blotches. 



Tkopidonotus, 278. 

 mm. V. P. 200 to 240 ; brown or black, mostly blotched. Coluber, 279. 



II. Snout recurved and keeled; V. P. 125 to 150. Heterodon, 288. 



269. CARPHOPHIOPS Gervais. (/cap0os, dry twig ; o(pi?, snake ; 



cty, appearance.) 

 a. Frontals, two pairs. 



531. C. amoenus (Say). Ground Snake. Glossy chestnut 

 brown ; belly salmon-red ; head very small ; vertical plate broad ; 

 scales 13 ; V. P. 112 to 131. L. 12. Mass. to 111. and S. (Lat., 

 pleasing.) 



532. C. vermis (Kennicott). Worm Snake. Purplish-black, 

 belly flesh color, the color extending on sides ; scales 13 ; larger 

 than the others. Mo. to Kan. (Lat. worm.) 



aa. Frontals, a single pair. 



533. C. helenee (Kennicott). Lustrous chestnut-brown, flesh 

 color beneath; snout short and narrow; scales 13. S. Ind. to 

 Miss. (To Miss Helen Tennison.) 



270. ABASTOR Gray. (A coined name.) 



534. A. erythrogrammus (I)audin.) " Hoop Sn ike." Blue- 

 back; sides with three red lines; belly flesh color, with black 

 blotches; eyes very large; nostril in the middle of nasal plate; 

 scales 19; V. P. 167-185. L. 25. N. C. to S. 111. and S. ; a 

 harmless snake concerning which many absurd stories have been 

 told. (tpvOpos, red ; y^apfir], line.) 



271. VIRGINIA Baird & Girard. 



535 V. valeriae Baird & Girard. Grayish, with minute black 

 dots, often in two rows; yellowish beneath; scales 15; V. P. 120 

 to 130. L. 12. Md. to 111. and S. (To Miss Valeria Blaney.) 



536. V. elegans Kennicott. Scales very narrow and elongate ; 

 olivaceous above, yellowish beneath ; scales 17. S. Ind. to Ark. 



272. FARANCIA Gray. (A coined name.) 



537. P. abacura (Holbrook). Horn Snake. Blue-black with 

 red, squarish spots on side; belly red, blotched with black; eyes 

 small; scales 19 ; V. P. 170 to 203. L. 36. S. C. to S. 111. (Nel- 

 son) and S. (a&ag, checker; ovpa, tail.) 



273. HALDEA Baird & Girard. (To Prof. Samuel 

 S. Haldeman?) 



538. H. striatula (L.). Brown Snake. Head elongated, 

 on a small neck. Eye large. Reddish gray, salmon red beneath; 



