456 Scientific Intelligence, 
previously described, which is not a matter of surprise when we consider 
the scattered condition of herpetological literature. - 
_ Prof. Jan separates from Rhabdosoma those Mexican species which 
possess two pairs of geneial plates, which is probably a judicious change. 
If the Catostoma chalybeum of Wagler belongs to this group, that au- 
thor’s name will pertain to it rather than to Rhadbdosoma, as has been 
urged.® In the work before us, however, it is referred to Hlapoides of 
Boie, a genus with keeled scales. If Wagler’s statement, “squame le- 
Nut., on the Coluber amoenus of Say. is species was called vermt- 
formis, white the name amenus was retained for that since called Helene 
by Kennicott. Under the impression that the two represented distinet 
genera, the Helene was called Carphophis in the same work, and follow- 
ing on the same page. As the true application of the name vermiforms 
could not have been ascertained at the time of its publication, Carpho- 
phis must be retained, though erroneously characterized, and established 
upon a species different from the afterwards accepted type. 
Prof. Jan is in error in identifying Virginia Harperti® with the V. Va- 
leriew on p. 24. Ile also employs the name Conocephalus for the genus 
Haldea, which we have shown to bé inapplicable.’ So Winia 1s the 
older name for Slreptophorus, and should be employed in its stead. 
Aspidura carinata (p. 29) is the Haplocercus Ceylonensis i 
published in 1858. lapops Petersi is E. plumbeater’ of three years 
earlier date. In the genus Homalosoma we find Contia of Baird and 
Girard included? I have already alluded to the range of this genus over 
both continents ;* it embraces in the Old World the coronelloides and 
melanocephala of Prof. Jan’s enumeration, with the Coronella m esig 
of Martin. Psilosoma Jan, will probably be accepted as a well esta 
lished genus. fm ; 
The genus Elapomorphus has received many accessions, within a few 
years, through the labors of Duméril, Giinther, Reinhardt and Peters. 
s adopted in the Prodromus, it embraces four or five distinct genera. 
Prof. Duméril early * alluded to the very peculiar dentition of his &. Ga- 
' * Monatsberichte Preuss. Acad. 1859, p. 275; Pr. A. N.S. Phila. 1960, p. 339% 
_* Ginther, Proc. Z, S$. Lond., 1860, June. ® Pr. A.N.S. Phil. 1862, p. 249. 
* Pr. A. N.S. Phil, 1860, p. 76. T Loe. cit., 1860, p. 566. 
* Loe. cit. 1862, p. 339. * Rev. Mag. Zool., 1856, p. 468. 
