REPTILES. 



19 



and recurved nostril. The tail forms nearly one-sixth of the total length. Head depressed anteriorly, 

 arched, and much more elevated posteriorly, where it is not much wider than high, nor much wider than 

 the neck. Vertical plate sub-pentagonal, broad in front, tapering, and very acute posteriorly. Occipitalfl 

 large, perfect, longer than the vertical. Superciliaries small. Pre-frontals of greater longitudinal extent 

 than post-frontals, separated for more than two-thirds of their length by the apex of the nostril, the 

 anterior angle extending down in front of the pre-nasal to below the level of the nostril. Tost-nasal 

 more than twice as large as pre-nasal. Loral very narrow, as long as both nasals together, and longer 

 than the post-frontals. One ante-orbital, sometimes a second very small one below; two post-orbitals of 

 about equal size." Two narrow and much elongated temporal shields just behind the post-orbitals, 

 entirely filling the space between the seventh upper labial and the occipital; behind this, small scale-like 

 temporal shields. Eight upper labials, seventh twice as large as any other. Fourteen lower labials, 

 seventh largest. Dorsal scales in 29 to 31 rows all perfectly smooth; central rows not much smaller; 



outer row largest, but not as high as long. 



Body whitish yellow above, with a dorsal series of transversely quadrate light olive brown blotches 

 and two smaller lateral series on each side. Abdomen Qui form clear whitish. The dorsal series of 

 blotches are indistinctly edged with blackish; they cover three or four scales longitudinally and twelve 

 or thirteen rows transversely, and are separated by regular intervals of one and a half scales of the 

 ground color. The lateral blotches become more or less indistinct in age from a dark suffusion over 

 the ground color. Each dorsal scale occupying a dark blotch is edged with lighter. In the young, the 

 head above is light brown, with a blackish bar across the post-frontals and through the eyes to the 

 angles of the mouth; there is also a dark blotch below the eye and some smaller ones on the crown 

 posteriorly. In older specimens these markings become obsolete, leaving the head uniform light glossy 

 olive brown. — (Kennicott.) 



1722. Rio Grande. A. Schott. — 42GG. Between Arkansas and Cimarron. J. H. Clark. 



84. SCOTOPHIS LINDHEIMERI, B. & G. 



Scotophis lindheimeri, B. & G. Catal. N. Am. Serp. Jan. 1853, 14. 



Sp. Ch. — Head broader behind and more pointed on the snout than in S. a/I^ghaniensis; snout more 

 narrow and elevated. Vertical plate as broad anteriorly as long; 27 to 29 dorsal rows, central rows 

 distinctly carinated. A dorsal series of dark leaden brown or amber brown quadrangular blotches, with 

 an elongated lateral series on each side. Intermediate space brownish yellow. Abdomen nearly all 

 yellow. — (Kennicott. ) 



Indianola, Texas. J* H. Clark. 



85. SCOTOPHIS EMORYI, B. & G 



Plate XII. 



Scotophis emoryi, B. & G. Catal. N. Am. Serp. Jan. 1853, 15*1. 



Sp. Ch. — Head narrow, elongated, widening suddenly behind the eyes. Snout elongat. «1, narrow, 

 elevated, and obtuse; outline anterior to the eyes snb-quadrangular. Crown flattened. Eyes very large. 

 Vertical plate much longer than wide, narrow posteriorly, much wider in front. Superciliaries narrow. 

 Loral large, trapezoidal, acutely angled behind. Dorsal rows 25 to 2*; carination of scales very faint, 

 barely perceptible on the c ntral rows. Above ash-grey with a dor d series of transverse brown 

 blotches, on each side of which are two others of smaller size; indistinct traces of a third. A frontal 

 brown vitta passing back through the eye and crossing the angle of the mouth on to the side of the 

 neck. Two blotches on the upper labials which are not margined with black. — (Kexnicott.) 



2257. Howard Springs, Texas. J. II. Clark.— 171 G. Pecos to Rio Grande. Dr. C. B. 

 Kennedy. 





