jfg OPHIDIA. 



disposed upon thirteen longitudinal series. Preanal scutella entire ; 

 subcaudal scutellae disposed upon a double series. 



SYX.DoUophis, GRD. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. August, 1857, 182. 



OBSERV. Colubrine in its general appearance, this genus resembles 

 Elaps more than any other of the family to which it belongs, the 

 system of coloration excepted, and which is rather of a uniform cast. 

 The generic diagnosis, as given above, may undergo some modifica- 

 tions at the accession of other species, for, so far, we know but the 

 one described below. 



DoLiopms FLAVICEPS, Grd. 

 (Plate X, figs. 1-5.) 



SPEC. CHAR. Head yellow. Middle region of back bluish-black ; a 

 pale sky-blue band on each side. Tail yellow, with its upper medial 

 region bluish-black. Abdomen yellow, with a black band on each 

 side. 



SYN. Elaps ftaviceps, CANTOR, in Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. VII, 1839, 33. 

 Doliophis flaviceps, GRD. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. August, 1857, 182. 



DESCR. The head is short, subelliptical, depressed, plane above, 

 and slightly declivous to the sides. The snout is subtruncated and 

 rounded. The nostrils are large, and situated between two plates. 

 The eyes, rather small, are circular; their diameter being comprised 

 nearly three times and a half across the interocular space. The cleft 

 of the mouth constitutes an open curve. The occipital plates are the 

 largest of the cephalic series. The vertex plate is six-sided, subcordi- 

 forra, posteriorly pointed, engaging between the occipitals. The su- 

 praoculars are rather longer than broad, and subangular. The post- 

 frontals are much larger than the prefrontals, subangular in shape, 

 and irregularly pentagonal; the prefrontals being subtriangular. The 

 rostral, broad upon its base, which is concave, is subconical, being 

 slightly visible in an upper view of the head. The prenasal is deeper 

 than long, and larger than the postnasal, which is semi-elliptical. There 

 is no loral plate. A large subtrapezoid anteorbital, extends from the 



