1392.] Zoology. 965 
lowish. No parietal pair of spots visible to the eye, but traces appear 
under a magnifier. Total length, 286 mm.; tail, 71 mm. 
The reduction of the number of labial plates is effected both by the 
fusion of the fifth and sixth of the E. sirtalis and also by the abbre- 
viation of the resulting plate, which, though longer than those adjacent 
to it, does not equal the two plates on the Æ. sirtalis, of which it is 
probably composed. The normality of the structure is confirmed by 
the reduction of the inferior labial series by two scales, all of which 
are of perfectly normal form. The gastrosteges are fewer in number 
than in any E. sirtalis or E. leptocephala known to me, while the num- 
ber of urosteges remains as in those species. The absence of spots on 
the gastrosteges distinguishes it from most of the subspecies of E. sir- 
talis. The general form is that of Tropidoclonium, and the distinctness 
of the two nasal plates is the only feature which separates it from that 
genus. It is one of the forms of which several are now known, which, 
while retaining the general features of the water-snakes, have adopted 
a terrestrial life and more or less burrowing habits. I propose that 
this species be called Eutenia brachystoma.—E. D. Cope. 
The Cervical Vertebræ of Monotremata.—In the number 
for January of Tae American Narura.ist, Prof. J. Baur mentions 
(p. 72) the fact that the cervical vertebre of the existing Monotre- 
mata have no zygapophyses, and that neither Flower in his Osteology 
of Mammals, nor Flower and Lydekker in their Introduction to the 
Study of Mammals, notice this peculiarity. 
May I be allowed to draw your attention to the descriptive catalogue 
of the Osteological Series contained in the Museum of the Royal Col- 
lege of Surgeons, Vol. i, 1853, where Prof. R. Owen states, on Orn- 
ithorhynchus, p. 215: “The cervical vertebra, which are seven in 
number and have no zygapophyses, and on Echida, p. 218, not any 
of the cervical vertebre have seers save the atlas. 
Leipsic. ROF. J. VICTOR CARUS. 
