686 | REPTILES—COLUBRID A. 
nent ridge or keel above; small infraorbitals, above the labials, continuous with the ante- 
orbitals in front and postorbitals behind ; nasais two; lorals one or two; prefrontals enclos- 
ing an azygos plate with or without other small plates along side ; two posterior maxillary 
teeth much the longest ; dorsal scales in 23 to 27 rows, carinated ; gastrosteges 125-150; uro- 
steges 30-58; post-abdeminal scutella, bifid. | 
Azygos and frontals separated by small plates. a. 
Azygos and frontals contiguous. , : ‘ ; : H. PLATYRHINUS, 
a. Interirontal region with from 4-8 small plates; extralimital, . . H.simus. 
a. Interfrontal region with from 11-15 small plates; extralimital. . H. Nasicus. 
H&TERODON PLATYRHINUS Latreille. 
ieg=moese Snake or Spreadimg Adder. 
Coluber heterodon, DAUDIN, SAY, HARLAN. 
Heterodon platyrhinus, LATREILLE, HOLBROOK, STORER, KIRTLAND, DEKay, DUMERIL and 
BIBRON, GUNTHER, COPE. ; 
Heterodon annulatus, TROOST. 
Heterodon plaiyrhinos, cognatus, niger, ct atmodes, BAIRD and GIRARD. 
General coler light-brown above, with three series of dark blotches varying from 
quadrate to circular, and becoming half rings upon the tail, alternating with lhght 
yellow ; a black band crossing the anterior part cf the vertical and superciliary plates 
-and postericr half of the postfrenjals, and continuing through the eye to the angle of 
the mouth; upper part of the neck and back with the scales between the black spots 
brown centrally and surrounded with orange-yellow, as can be seen by stretching the 
skin; under part of tail varying from yellow to flesh-red; abdomen slate color, becoming 
greenish-yellow under the neck; inframaxillary region greenish-white; vertical and 
superciliary crossed by a greevish band; upper labials yellow, eight in number, lower 
nine; vertical pentagonal, cuneiform, broadest in front, and longer than commissural 
line of occipitals; superciliaiies broad ; azygos elongated, acute behind, contiguous 
with the prefrontals and postfrontals, xeaching to about the middle of the commissural 
line of the latter; inframaxillaries extending to fourth lower labial; dorsal scales in 25, 
rarely 23, rows; gastrosteges 125-149; urosteges 46-58. Length, 2¢ feet; head, 12 inches ; 
tail, 7 inches; transverse diameter ot head, 14 inches; of neck, 1 inch; circumference 
of body, 34 inches. 
Habitat, New Hampshire, Massachussits, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Vir- 
ginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, 
Ohio, Michigan, and “ California.” 
The Hog-nose Snake is occasionally found in the northeastern part of 
State, and in the Scioto Valley. It is usually met with in sandy 
coils, and, it issaid, also in low, wet meadows. Its breeding has been ob- 
served in,Georgia in April, but probably is later in our more northern 
climate. Htercdon platyrhinus rejoices in a multitude of common 
names, such as Spreading, Deaf, and Blowing Adder, Flat. head, Hog-and 
Buckwheat-nose Snake, Blauser, Blowing, and Sand Viper, etc. 
Considerable discussion has been going on lately in the Science News* 
—— 8 —————————————EEE——— ee 
*Vol,I, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, 
Sra nen tig 
Se a oe 
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