114 COLUBER T A X I S P I L O T U S. 



body is a light chocolate-brown. Along the vertebral line is a series of subquad- 

 rate black spots, lighter in the centre, and on each flank a row of oblong spots 

 or blotches of the same shade — sometimes in the same vertical line, sometimes 

 alternating with those on the vertical line near the tail; the diflferent series of spots 

 are occasionally confluent, so as to form bars. The abdominal plates are dirty- 

 white, most of them with a black spot near the extremity, and the centre dotted 

 minutely with black. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 1 inch 5 lines; length of body, 28 inches; length 

 of tail, 5 inches 6 lines; total length, 35 inches. The .individual here described 

 had one hundred and forty-four abdominal plates, the posterior bifid, and seventy- 

 nine subcaudal scales. 



Habits. This animal is quite new to me; consequently I am ignorant of its 

 habits. Dr. Geddings, however, informs me that it is a water snake. 



Geographical Distribution. As yet only two specimens of this Coluber have 

 come under my observation; one from the sea-board of South Carolina, the other 

 from the neighbourhood of the Altamaha river in Georgia. 



