12 



DESCRIPTIVE LIST. 

 ASINEA. 



COLUBRID^:. 



Carphophiops Gervais. 

 Head and neck of same width; snout sharp and protrud- 

 ing. One nasal plate, nostril in the middle. No preocular, 

 loral plate entering orbit. Scales smooth. Anal scutum 

 and subcaudals divided. Body subcylindrical; tail short. 



Carphophiops amoenus (Say). 

 Worm Snake. 



Upper labials five, increasing in size posteriorly. Verti- 

 cal plate about as broad as long; superciliaries very small 

 and narrow. One postocular of moderate size. Color 

 above, light brown or browish gray; beneath, salmon red. 

 Length generally about ten and a half inches, of which the 

 tail occupies one-seventh of the total measurement. 



This little worm-like snake is found in rather damp 

 localities, especially under decaying logs, where it burrows 

 with the aid of its sharp snout. Captive specimens feed 

 upon earth-worms which, together with the wood-eating 

 larvae of Coleoptera that abound in places frequented by the 

 reptile, probably form a large percentage of its food. Al- 

 though seemingly well distributed and tolerably common, 

 specimens are not often seen, owing to their secretive 

 habits and diminutive size. 



Lampropeltis Fitz. 



Head but slightly distinct from neck. Two nasals; one 

 anteocular; loral present. Body moderately stout. Scales 

 smooth. Anal plate entire; subcaudals bifid. 



Two species are recorded from this vicinity, Z. getulus 

 and L. doliatus triangulus. The former is mentioned by 

 DeKay* as occurring on Long Island, but rare in that 



*Zoology of New York, Part III., 1842, p. 38. 



