164. PHILODETAS. 127 



164. PHILODRYAS. 



Philodryas, Wagler, Syst. Amph. p. 186 (1830). 



Chlorosoma, Wagler, I. a. 



Xenodon, part., Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 80 (1837). 



Serpetodxyas, part., Schleg. I. c. p. 173. 



Lygophis, Tschudi, Faun. Per., Serp. p. 52 (1845). 



Dryophylax, part., Dum. ^ Bibr. Brp. GSn. vii. p. 1103 (1854). 



Callirhinus {non Ouv.), Girard, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1857, p. 182, and 



U.S. Explor. Exped., Herp. p. 139 (1858). 

 Philodryas, part., Oiinth. Cat. Col. Sn. p. 123 (1858) ; Jan, Elenco 



sist. Ofid. p. 83 (1863). 

 Euophrys {tiou Koch), Gunth. I.e. p. 139. , 

 Graleophis, Berthold, Gotting. Nachr. 1859, p. 181. 

 Teleolepis, Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. xi. 1869, p. 153. 

 Dirrhox, Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. xxiv. 1887, p. 58. 

 Atomophis, Cope, I. c. 



Maxillary teeth 12 to 15, subequal, anterior smallest, followed, 

 after an interspace, by a pair of large grooved fangs situated just 

 behind the vertical of the posterior border of the eye ; mandibular 

 teeth, anterior longest. Head distinct from neck, with more or less 

 distinct canthus rostralis; eye moderate or rather large, with 

 round pupil. Body cylindrical or slightly compressed ; scales 

 smooth or keeled, with apical pits, disposed more or less obliquely 

 in 17 to 23 rows ; ventrals rounded or obtusely angulate laterally. 

 Tail rather long ; subcaudals in two rows. 



South America. 



Synopsis of the Species. 

 I. Ventrals 157 or more. 



A. Scales strongly keeled, in 21 rows ; ventrals 184-201 ; sub- 



caudals 120-140 1. cBstivus, p. 128. 



B. Scales smooth or feebly keeled, in 17 or 19 rows. 



1. Ventrals distinctly angulate laterally, 206-228 ; subcaudals 



106-131 ; scales in 19 rows . . 2. viridissimus, p. 129. 



2. Ventrals rounded or indistinctly angulate. 



a. Eostral not much broader than deep. 



a. Intemasals not longer than broad, shorter than the 

 prsefrontals. 



Scales in 19 rows ; ventrals 175-198 ; 



subcaudals 94-126 ; green above .... 3. olfersii, p. 129. 

 Scales in 19 rows ; ventrals 157-199 ; 



subcaudals 74-119 ; loreal not longer 



than deep 4. sehotti, p. 130. 



Scales in 17 rows ; ventrals 168-187 ; 



subcaudals 101-104 5. boUvianus, p. 132. 



Scales in 19 rows; ventrals 184-204; 



subcaudals 82-96 ; loreal longer than [p. 132. 



deep 6. psammophideus. 



