126 P H I D I A. 



The body is slender, subcylindrical, broader than deep, covered 

 with proportionally large scales, subelliptical in shape, posteriorly 

 rounded or subtruncated. Those forming the exterior rows are con- 

 spicuously broader than the rest. The tail is short, conical, and 

 tapering. 



The abdominal scutellae are one hundred and fifty-five in number, 

 the posterior one, or preanal, being divided. There are thirty-five 

 subcaudal scutellae, disposed upon a double series. 



The lighter bands of the back cover the fourth external row of 

 dorsal scales ; the series of black dots is immediately beneath, on 

 the third row of scales. The scales in the exterior row are tipped 

 with black. The head above is blackish-brown ; beneath mottled 

 with black, on a yellowish-green ground. The abdomen is trans- 

 versely barred with black and yellow. 



Loo. — This species inhabits California and Oregon = 



Plate X, fig. 6, represents Contia mitis, size of life. 

 Fig. 7, is a profile of the head. 

 Fig. 8, an upper view ; and 

 Fig. 9, an under view ; whilst 

 Fig. 10, exhibits a front view of the same region. 

 Fig. 11, represents the scales of the body ; and 

 Fig. 12, the vent, to show the preanal scutella. 

 Figs. 7-10, are magnified one-half of their diameter. 



Genus BASCANION, B. & G. 



Char. gen. — Corpore et capite elongatis. Cauda longissima. Scutis 

 postorhitalihus diiohus ; praeorhltali uno, et loreo uno ; iiasalibus duo- 

 bus : 7iare in sutura sita. Squamis laevihus in septendecim series 

 longitudinales dispositis. Scutella praeanali divisa. ScuteUis subcau- 

 dalihus in duplicem seriem ordinatis. Colore in adulto aequali, in 

 junior e vero maculato. 



Gen. Char. — Body and head elongated. Tail very long. Two post- 

 orbital and one anteorbital plates. One loral. Two nasals; nostril 



