46 SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS, 



broader than the frontal posteriorly. Temporals 1+2. Labials eight, 

 fourth and fifth in the orbit. Infralabials ten, fifth largest. Submentals 

 two pairs, elongate. Scales smooth, in 17 rows, dorsal with two pores, 

 narrow, outer twice as broad, Ventrals 203. Anal bifid. Subcaudals 

 96 pairs. 



Olive-tinted greenish-brown above; a yellow black-edged band one and 

 two half scales in width along the middle of the back. A blackish line 

 on the ends of the ventrals and edge of the outer row. Above the dark 

 edges a light space on the outer row extends along body and tail as a 

 light line. A yellow cross band on the hinder extremity of the pre- 

 frontals, the ante and postoculars. The greater part of the supralabials 

 and ventral surface yellow. Mexico. 



Coluber taeniatus. 



Leptophis taeniata Hallowell, 1852, Proc. Ac. N. Sc., Phil., 181. 



Very long and slender; head distinct from the neck, elongate, narrow, 

 subquadrangular in transverse section, crown flattened, sides concave in 

 front of the eye; tail slender, long, one third of the total. Snout promi- 

 nent. Mouth-cleft deep, outline curved. Teeth equal, smooth. Eye 

 large, pupil round. Crown-shields nine, large, long. Rostral bent back 

 in a blunt angle between the internasals. Prefrontals broad, bent down- 

 ward at the sides. Frontal broad anteriorly, contracted in the middle. 

 Supraciliaries long, broad, prominent, convex. Nasal divided, nostril 

 between. Loreal longer than high. Preoculars two; lower very small, 

 in a notch between the third and fourth labials; upper produced above 

 the loreal, sometimes reaching the vertical. Postoculars two, lower on 

 the fifth labial. Two temporals in contact with the orbitals. Labials 

 eight, seventh largest. Infralabials ten, fifth largest. Submentals two 

 pairs, the hinder longer. Scales smooth, lozenge-shaped, truncate at the 

 end, in 15 rows, outer broad. Ventrals 209. Anal bifid. Subcaudals 

 135 — 157 pairs. 



A narrow longitudinal line of brown or black in the middle of each row 

 of scales. A dorsal band of brown about seven scales in width obscures 

 those of the medial rows ; those on several of the outer rows are black. 

 At the upper edge of each flank there is a narrow band about one scale 

 in width of orange or red. The longitudinal lines on the outer rows are 

 more or less distinctly separated by spaces of orange. A rather indistinct 



