SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS 93 
Contra Pyeara, pl. VII, fig. 5. 
Cope, 1871, Proc. Ac. N. Se., Phil., 223. 
Small, moderately stout; head little broader than the neck, subconiecal, 
slightly depressed; tail short, near one sixth of the total length, distinct, 
tapering to a point. Eye moderately large, pupil round. Head-shields 
nine. Rostral broad, low. Internasals narrow in front. Nostril small, 
round, nearer the upper edge of the nasal, which is grooved to the anterior 
labial. Lower angle of the loreal produced toward the eye. One anteor- 
bital, narrow below. Postorbitals two. Labials eight, third, fourth, and 
fifth touching the eye. Infralabials 9. One temporal in contact with the 
orbitals, sometimes. divided. Scales keeled, roof-shaped, or smooth, in 17 
rows, apparently subhexangular, medial narrow, outer wider than long, 
Ventrals 120—133. Anal bifid. Subeaudals 35 
Back uniform brown; in some young specimens each scale bears a light 
54 pairs. 
line, which has the effect of strong keels. Bases of the ventrals dark 
toward the flanks, more uniform yellow medially. The dark color of the 
ventrals along the outer row forms a zigzag longitudinal line. Largest 
specimen 63 inches; tail one inch, North Carolina to Florida, 
CONTIA MITIS. 
Baird & Girard, 1853, Cat. N. A. Serp., 110. 
Elongate, depressed; head depressed, little larger than the neck; snout 
short, broad, rounded in front; tail short, rather thick, tapering gradually 
to a short distance from the tip, whence more abruptly to the spine-like 
point. Eyes small, over the third and fourth labials. Head-shields nine, 
anterior short, broad. Rostral broader than high. Nasal divided, often 
partly or entirely united. Loreal present, sometimes fused with the pre- 
frontals. Orbitals 1—2, rarely 1—1. Temporals 1+2. Labials seven, 
sixth largest. Infralabials seven, fourth largest. Anterior submentals 
much the larger. Scales smooth, in 15 rows, outer broader. Ventrals 
161. Anal divided. Subcaudals 833—89 pairs. 
Light reddish-brown, punctulate with black. A yellowish line on each 
flank, on the fourth and fifth rows of scales. Bases of all the scales 
darker, more distinctly so on the third and fourth rows, which presents 
the appearance of a darker line continued forward to the nostrils, darken- 
ing on the sides of the head and neck. Base of each ventral broadly 
