82 SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS, 
short, broad; prefrontals and internasals often united. Rostral large, 
prominent, produced backward between the internasals or prefrontals, 
convex, sometimes resembling that of Heterodon. Nasal usually entire 
and grooved behind the nostril, sometimes divided or without the groove, 
Oculars 1—2. Seales smooth, broad, in 17 rows. Anal divided. Sub- 
caudals in two rows. (Anterior labials, rostral, and nasal sometimes 
united.) 
Internasals and prefrontals not united; 
rostral separating internasals but slightly ; 
prefrontal and labials in contact frontalis. 
rostral separating internasals, but not reaching frontal 
cand. 
Internasals and prefrontals united ; 
nasal and anteorbital in contact NASUS. 
rostral not reaching the frontal; 
loreal generally distinct maculata. 
rostral reaching the frontal ; 
loreals fused with prefrontals ; 
back with black cross bars variegata. 
back blackish-olive alivaced. 
FICIMIA FRONTALIS. 
ToLuca FRONTALIS Cope, 1864, Pr. Ac. N. Sc., Phil., 167. 
Muzzle prominent, pointed, slightly narrowed. Prefrontals slightly 
separated by the rostral. Nasal long. Frontals in contact with labials. 
Preocular low, narrow. Two postoculars, lower barely in contact with 
one temporal. Seven upper labials; eye over third and fourth; seven 
lower. Parietals longer than frontal. Anterior suture of frontal a little 
longer than straight lateral. Seales in 17 rows, equal, thin. One pair 
of short submentals. Ventrals 144. Anal bifid. Subcaudals 44 pairs, 
Total length 10% inches; tail, 1% inches. 
Greyish-brown, more rufous medially, with about thirty-six rhombie 
dark-edged spots of brown, six scales wide and four long, the angles of 
which are produced as vertical lateral bars. Spots becoming similar to 
cross-bands posteriorly, separated by a pale spot on the vertebral line. 
A brown cross-band across prefrontals and frontals; a longitudinal band 
on each occipital and side of nape. (Cope.) From Colima, Mexico. A 
doubtful species. 
