HOODED SERPENT. 



89 



scuta are bluish grey, interspersed with black as they approach the tail. 

 The tail cylindrical, gradually tapering into a sharp point, covered above 

 with hexagonal, yellowish green scales, marked with pitch black, so that 

 its general appearance is black, divided by yellow rings, and interspersed 

 with spots of the same color. From the broad semicircular plate, covering 

 the anus, proceeds a number of blackish blue, somewhat chequered, scuta, 

 after which commence by pairs the subcaudal scutella. 



How little confidence can be put in counting the abdominal scuta and 

 subcaudal scutella, using as a guide their number, which varies nearly in 

 each single individual of the same species, is a remark made long ago hy 

 several Naturalists. The following Tables shew the diflerence in this res- 

 pect as well as the respective dimensions of four specimens, which have 

 come under my inspection. 



i(=) 



Scuta abdominalia, , . , 

 Scuta subcaudalia, .. 

 Scutella subcaudalia, 



245 



215 



13 



10 



68 



79 



219 



11 



71 



23^ 



32 



63 



Lengtli of the bead,. 

 ,, of the trunk, 

 of the tail, . 



Total length, 



Feet. Inch. 



2.0 

 6.3 

 6.0 



2.3 



Feet. Inch. 



2.3 

 7 0.0 



1 9.2 



8 



11.5 



Feet. Inch. 



2.1 

 2.3 

 7.4 



11.8 



4. 



Feet. Inch. 



2.5 

 0.2 

 7.0 



9.7 





1. 



2. 



3. 



4. 



Circumference of the neck, 



3.6 



4.7 



3.9 



5.2 



Greatest circumference of "| 



6.3 



8.2 



6.8 



8.4 



(°) No. 1 is the specimen here described, 

 X 



