72 COLUBER EXIMIUS. 



Massachusetts; Dr. Dekay in New York; Dr. Hallowell in Pennsylvania; Dr. 

 Geddings in Maryland. West of the AUeghanies the Coluber exiniius was 

 observed by Dr. Pickering in Ilhnois, and by Say high up the Missouri; how far 

 south it may run down the valley of the Mississippi, I have at this moment no 

 means of determining; but it may be remarked that reptiles are there much less 

 confined in their geographical range than they are in the Atlantic states. 



General Remarks. The Coluber eximius, though so common in the northern 

 states, was only a short time since recognised and described as a distinct species 

 by Dr. Dekay, an excellent herpetologist, and one who has done much in 

 ophidiology. Say seemed to consider the serpent he observed in Missouri as 

 new; but I am not aware that he described it as such. Dr. Harlan, however, 

 gave a description of it from specimens in the Philadelphia Museum, and under 

 the name calligaster, from the beautiful arrangement of colours on the belly. I 

 have examined these specimens, and can pronounce them identical with the 

 Coluber eximius, having a few plates more. 



The general resemblance between the Coluber eximius and the Coluber guttatus, 

 is so great as to lead several excellent naturalists to consider them identical; yet 

 there are many differences, which, though small if taken alone, when combined 

 are sufficient to establish these animals as separate and distinct species. To 

 give a better notion of their differences, I have had the two animals drawn nearly 

 in the same position. 



1. The head of the Coluber eximius is shorter and more rounded in front. 



2. The body is shorter in proportion, and the tail much more so, and is thicker, 

 and the number of the abdommal plates and bifid sub-caudal plates do not agree. 



3. The disposition as well as the tint of the colour is entirely different in life; 

 but when the two animals have been kept in alcohol, then the colours become 

 more alike. 



