50 SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS. 
SPILOTES MELANURUS. 
Duméril & Bibron, 1854, Erp. Gén. VII, 224. 
Specimens belonging to this species differ from those of S. variabilis in 
that the posterior two thirds of the body are entirely black. Temporals 
14142. Labials eight. Keels on the scales obsolete, faintly indicated 
near the middle of the body. Rows of scales 16. Ventrals 226. Anal 
entire, Subcaudals 123 pairs, Total length 585 inches; tail 15% inches. 
SPILOTES AURIBUNDUS. 
Cope, 1861, Pr. Ac. N. Se., Phil., 300. 
Labials cight, ultimate as high or higher than the penultimate, fifth 
large, approaching or reaching the postocular, Scales in 18 or 19 rows, 
weakly keeled, first four or five smooth. 
Crown of head yellow, crossed by four more or less irregular cross-bands 
of black. Posterior third of body crossed by numerous narrow, chevron- 
formed cross-bands of yellow; the tail annulate with the same, Mirador, 
Vera Cruz, 
SPILOTES POECILONOTUS. 
Giinther, 1858, Cat. Col. Snakes in Brit. Mus., 100. 
Elongate, compressed; head distinct from the neck, rounded in front; 
tail slender. Rostral broader than high, just reaching the top of the head. 
Internasals short, broader behind; prefrontals much larger. Frontal broad 
in front, obtuse-angled behind. Supraciliaries broad behind. Parietals 
short. One preocular, not reaching the frontal. Postoculars two. Loreal 
present. Nasal divided. Labials nine, fourth, fifth, and sixth in orbit. 
Scales elongate, much imbricate, in 21—23 rows, dorsal keeled, the three 
vertebral most strongly. Ventrals raised on the sides. Anal entire. 
Subcaudals in two rows. 
Uniform brown above, with the exception of some scales in the medial 
row, which are yellow, with black tip. Head yellow and brown varie- 
gated. Belly yellow anteriorly. Ventrals black-edged about the middle 
of the body, becoming entirely black posteriorly. Total length 63 inches; 
tail 18 inches. Honduras, Mexico. 
