SYNOPSES AND DESCRIPTIONS. 69 



var. boylii. 

 Broad white transverse bands or spots on the sides. Dorsal rows 

 usually 23. California to Mexico. 



Liophis. 



Wagler, 1830. 



Moderately slender; belly broad, rounded; head little larger than the 

 neck, depressed ; muzzle rather short ; tail moderate, tapering. Eye mod- 

 erate, pupil round. Crown-shields nine. A loreal. Oculars 1 — 2. Pos- 

 terior maxillary teeth longer, smooth, generally separated by an interspace. 

 Scales smooth in 17 to 19 rows. 



LlOPHIS ELAPOIDES. 



Pliocercus elapoides Cope, 1860, Pr. Ac. N. Sc, Phil, 253. 



Body cylindrical; head scarcely distinct; tail two fifths of the total. 

 Posterior upper maxillary teeth longer, smooth. Crown-shields normal. 

 Rostral just visible from above. Length and breadth of the frontal equal 

 to the length of the suture of the parietals. Two preoculars ; upper large, 

 not reaching the frontal; lower small, partially between the third and 

 fourth labials. Postoculars two. Height and length of the loreal equal. 

 Nasal divided. Labials eight, fourth and fifth in orbit. Infralabials eight, 

 the last three times as long as the seventh, sixth largest; these three 

 plates border within a large shield which diverges from the outer posterior 

 extremity of the hinder submental. Submentals two pairs, equal. Scales 

 smooth, in 17 rows. Ventrals 131 (to 143). Anal bifid. Subcaudals 89 

 pairs. Total length 19| inches ; tail 1\ inches. 



Brilliant red bands from four to six scales in width encircle the body; 

 these are separated by black rings, in sets of three, separated by yellow 

 intervals, ten or eleven on the body — one at the anus and six or seven on 

 the tail. The outer ring of each three is one and a half scales wide, and 

 is not continued on the belly ; the yellow interval is of the' same width, 

 and the central black is three and a half or four scales wide. The first 

 three is on the head and neck ; the central black is seven or eight scales 

 wide, and does not extend upon the neck, but involves the ends of the 

 parietals and the last upper labial. The anterior yellow ring crosses the 

 parietals and involves one and a half temporals, the sixth, seventh, and 

 half the eighth upper labials. All the head anterior to this is deep lus- 



