1863.] DR. A. GiJNTHER ON A NEW SNAKE FROM BAHIA. 57 



between the most slender species of Dro»22CM5 and the stout forms of 

 the genus Liophis, dividing them into six divisions, characterized by 

 the structure of the scales and by the relative length of the tail*. 

 This new species would enter the division Lygophis of his arrange- 

 ment, having the scales without grooves, and a tail the length of 

 which is one-fourth of the total. 



Dromicus (Lygophis) wuchereri, sp. nov. 



Scales in fifteen rows. Loreal square ; one prseorbital, reaching 

 to the upper surface of the head, but not touching the vertical ; two 

 postorbitals ; eight upper labials, the third, fourth, and fifth enter- 

 ing the orbit (the third with its posterior angle only) ; the seventh 

 labial forms only a small portion of the lip, and on one side it is 

 even somewhat remote from the labial edge, the sixth and eighth 

 labials being in contact with each other (as in Biemennia, where this 

 shield generally is described as a temporal). An elongate temporal 

 shield is in contact with both oculars ; five scale-like temporals be- 

 hind, in two transverse series. Five pairs of the lower labials are in 

 contact with the chin-shields. IGO ventral shields; anal bifid; 

 66 subcaudals. 



The posterior maxillary tooth is the strongest, and somewhat re- 

 mote from the preceding. 



Light brownish olive, minutely dotted with brown. Anterior part 

 of the trunk with twelve pairs of brown spots, which are arranged in 

 a zigzag series ; the spots of the two anterior pairs are confluent. 



* Mr. Cope's general oliservations on the species of these genera are perfectly 

 correct, and the divisions proposed by liim are most convenient for the determi- 

 nation of tlie species, but they do not appear to me to be more natural groups than 

 those which we had before ; for instance, Linphh reginm is certainly more closely 

 allied to L. merremii and to L. cobella than to Dromicus temminckii; yet L. re- 

 gincs and D. temminc/cii ate united into one group, and the two others into 

 another. L. conirosiris cannot be separated from L. rogince. And if Liophis and 

 Droniieushe brought into so close a proximity as they are by Mr. Cope, Zamenis 

 and certain species of Cormella, Leptodira, &c., cannot be kept at a distance. 



