HARVARD UNIVERSITY

VE ri R I

LIBRARY

OF THE

Museum of Comparative Zoology

{y(H, -s-

The Great Basin Naturalist

Volume \ . 1944

Vasco M. Tanner, Editor

Puiu.isuKi) AT Pk()\-(), Utah, by

Till-: I )i-:i'.\kTMi:.\T (ii- Zdoi.ocN- axd I'.xriiMdi.oGV

()|- r.KICIIAM ^'(l|■.\•(.; Univi-'.ksitn'

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Volume V

NUMBERS 1 AND 2, OCTOBER 27, 1944

Page

Four Devastating Alt-lanopli Found in Utah ( Orthopcra-

Cvrtacanthacrinat- ) . W. W. Henderson 1

The l^uropean l^arwii; Fi>und in Provo, Utah. X'asco M.

Tanner 22

Dr. WilHam Williams Henderson (18/9-1944). \'asco M.

Tanner 23

NUMBERS 3 AND 4, DECEMBER 29, 1944

A Taxonomic Study of the (ienus Hypsiglena, Wilmer. W

Tanner 25

Undescribed Species oi Western Nearctic Tipulidae (Diptera).

H.. Charles P. Alexander 93

Index to Volume V 105

II

Volume V

Numbers 1 and 2

The Great Basin Naturalist

October 27, 1944

V

>* Zo.log" 't-

\ , y

J- i ii K A ii y^

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Four Devastating Melano.pli Found in Utah (Orthoptera-

Cyrtacanthacrinae), W. W. Henderson 1

The European Earwig Found in Provo, Utah, Vasco M. Tanner 22

Dr. William Williams Henderson (1879-1944), Vasco M. Tanner 23

Published at Provo, Utah, by the

Department of Zoology and Entomology ot

Brigham Young University

The Great Basin Naturalist

Vasco M. Tanner, Editor
C. Lynn Hayward, Assistant Editor

A journal published four times a year by the Department of
Zoology and Entomology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

Manuscripts. Only original unpublished manuscripts, pertaining
to the Great Basin and the Western United States in the main, will be
accepted. Manuscripts are subjected to the approval of the editor.

Illustrations. All illustrations should be made with a view to
having them appear within the limits of the printed page. The illus-
trations that form a part of an article should accompany the manu-
script. All half-tones or zinc etchings to appear in this Journal are
to be made under the supervision of the editor, and the cost of the
cuts is to be borne by the contributor.

Reprints. No reprints are furnished free of charge. A price
list for reprints and an order form is sent with the proof.

Subscription. The annual subscription is $1.50, (outside the
United States, $2.00). Single number, 50 cents.

All correspondence dealing with manuscripts, subscriptions, re-
prints and other business matters should be addressed to the Editor,
Great Basin Naturalist, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

Reprint Schedule of The Great Basin Naturalist

Each

Additional

2 pp.

4 pp.

6 pp.

8 pp.

10 pp.

12 pp.

2 pp.

50 copies

$2.00

$3.50

$4.50

$5.50

$6.50

$7.50

.95

100 copies

3.50

4.50

5.50

6.50

7.50

8.50

200 copies

4.75

5.75

6.75

7.75

8.75

9.75

300 copies

5.75

6.75

7.75

8.75

9.75

10.75

Covers: $5.00 for first 100 copies; $2.00 for additional 100 copies.

The Great Basin Naturalist

^9a^

Pcm.isiir.i) i!v THE
dupakt.mknt 01" zooi.chjy and extu.moi.ocjy
Bhicham Young University. Provo. Utah

\ (ti.tME y

()CT(3BI':R 27, 1944

Nos. 1 & 2

FOUR DEVASTATING MELANOPLI FOUND JN UTAH

(Orthoptcra - Cyrtacanthacriiiae)

W. W. IIENDI^RSOX
Professor of Zoology and luitomology. Utah State Agricultural College

1. ARRANGEMENT

Inasmuch as this paper lias cccnKjniic si^nilicance. the order of
trealnient of the four species discussed will l)e in the descending order
of their economic importance to agriculture in Utah. This order is
as folhnvs :

M clauoplits iiuwicanus mcxicamts ( Saussure )
Mclaiioplits packardii ( Scudder i
Mclaiioplits luTittafiis (Say)
Mclaiiopliis fcniiir-riibriiin (DeGeer)
From a strictly taxanomic standpoint, the four species are arranged
l)y ."^cudder (25) as follows:

26. M. mcxicamts mcxicanus (aflanis) (Saussure)
82. AI. fennir-rubnim (DeGeer)
96. M. Packardii (Scudder)
126. lil. bivittatus (Say)
Tliis arrangement indicates .Scudder's idea of the phylogenetic se-
(|iK'nce and the numbering imphes groups of species coming between
the numl)ers given, so that eacli of the four species is distinct from
any of tlie other three.

P)latchley (39) gives the same arrangement. Ile1)ard's (51) taxo-
nomic arrangement is now the most extensivel}- used, and is as follows:
.1/. hh'iitatiis (Sa}' )

.1/. fciniir-rubruiit frimtr-nihniiii ( DeGeer)
M. Dicxicaints Dicxicamis ( .^atissure)
.1/. {"ackardii (.'^cudder)

1

The Great Basin Naturalist
2 W. W. HENDERSON Vol. V, Nos. 1 , 2,

The order of discovery and description of the four species is as
follows :

M. feniur-ntbruiu (DeGeer) 1773

M. bivittatus (Say) 1825

il/. iiicxicaiins mcxicanus (Saussure) 1861

M. packardii (Scudder) 1878

2. OTHER DESTRUCTIVE GRASSHOPPERS

Tt must not he assumed that the four species treated are the only
destructive grasshoppers in Utah. Another species, M. differcntialis
(Thomas), which l)eIon,i;s in tlie same genus is, at times, highly in-
jurious in limited areas. Up to 1942, this species has been found in
Utah only along the Rio Virgin in Washington County, at Kanah in
Kane County, on the Green River and at Woodside on the Price River
in Emery County, on the Colorado River at Moab and at Castleton in
Grand County. Ocdaleo)wtus enigma (Scudder), closely allied to
M clajinplus, is sometimes destructive to dry-farm crops in limited areas.
Canuiulo pcllucida (Scudder) is one of the most destructive grass-
hoppers to dry pastures in Utah. There are still others that deserve
mention, but this paper is concerned with the four species pointed out,
because they are the most devastating of the genus in Utah and be-
cause enough material and data have been accumulated to justify some
conclusions.

3. MELAXOPLUS MEXICAXUS MEXICANUS (Saussure)
(See PI. I fig-. \)

a : SynouAiny :

1. 1861— Saussure, Pecotcttir. (7: p. 160)

2. 1873— Thomas, Pczotettix. (11: p. 222)

3. 1875 — Riley, Caloptenus atlanis. (12: p. 169)

4. 1897— Lugger. M. atlanis. (24: pp. 280-283)

5. 1897— Scudder, M. atlanis. (25: pp. 178-183)

6. \S97Scuddei\ M. intermedins. (25 : pp. 172-174)

7. 1910— Kirby. M. atlanis. (35: p. 512)

8. 1910— Kirby, (35)

9. 1920— Rlatchley, M. atlanis. (39: pp. 414-416)
10. 1928— ¥[eh2ird. mexieanns. (47: pp. 279-282)

b. Description :

Medium and variable in size. In a group of a hundred or more
individuals, the two colors, brown and gray, show up most, both in the

( )Li. 27, 1944 UKVASTATlNt; MICl.ANlJi'l.l (Jl- I lAH 3

same specimen. In S(jme. the j;ra\' i)revails (jver the brtnvn, in (jtlier,
l)i"()\\n prevails over gray, liotii brown and gray vary in the pcjjjula-
lions from light to dark. The L'tali collection indicates that mature
specimens are ligliter in both colors wlien the}' are newly emerged and
that the colors deepen and darken as specimens become older.

The most conspicuous color markings are the blackish irregular
lines on the upper sides of the thorax, the small blackish spots run-
ning in a narrow straight line down the length of the tegminae are
narnnv and long, usually reaching well beyond the tip of the abdomen,
especially in males. The wings are well developed, h\aline and nearl}'
as long as the tegminae. The upper margin of the subanal plate of
the males is elevated in the center and cleft to form twin tubercles
with an indentation between their bases on the caudal side. The fur-
culae of the male are short, about one-third as long as the supra-genital
plate, broad and contiguous in the basal half, very narrow and di-
vergent in the distal half. The cerci of the male are quadrate in the
basal half, narrowed one-third and cupped in the distal half.

This brief description is sufficient to distinguish M. mcxicanus
iiuwicaiiHs from other species found in Utah. For more technical
description, reference is made to other works, particularly Scudder
(25), and Blatchley (39).

c. Measurements :
Male :

Body length :

Average for 100 specimens 21 mm.

Shortest body in 100 specimens 17 mm.

Longest body in 100 specimens 25 mm.
Hind femora length :

Average for 100 specimens 14 mm.

Shortest femur in 100 specimens 11 mm.

Longest femur in 100 specimens 14 mm.
Tegmina length :

Average for 100 specimens 20 mm.

Shortest tegmina for 100 specimens 15 mm.

Longest tegmina for 100 specimens 2^ mm.

Female :

Body length :

Average for 100 specimens 25 mm.
Shortest body in 100 s])ecimens 19 mm.
Longest tegmina for 100 specimens 29 mm.

The Great Basin Xaturalist

4 w. w. iir.xDKRSON Vol. \', Nos. 1, 2,

1 lind femor;i lcn>;ih :

Average iov 100 specimens 14 mm.

Shortest femur in 100 specimens 12 mm.

Longest femur in 100 specimens 18 mm.
Tegmina length :

Average for 100 specimens 19 mm.

Shortest tegmina for 100 specimens 14 mm.

Longest tegmina for 100 specimens 24 mm.

cf. Geographical Distribution :

Mclanoplus yncxicamis (Saussure) (7) was described in 1861 from
specimens collected in Old Mexico. In 1875, Riley (12) discovered
the species in Missouri and described it untler the name Caloptenus
atlanis. In 1876, he (14) discovered it in Illinois. In 1883, Bruner
(21) gave the distribution as "Northern United States and British
America." I'.y 1897, when Scudder (25) published his "Revision of
Melanopli," he had information placing the species in many localities
in Canada and Mexico and all the states in the United States except
New York, Rhode Island, Delaware, West Virginia, Florida, Ohio,
Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, (Jklahoma and North Dakota. Scud-
der's Index of 1901 (27) added Kansas, Arkansas and North Dakota
to the territory. Caudell (29) added Oklahoma in 1902, and Mead
(31) added Ohio in 1904, Morse (32) added Tennessee in the same
year.

Riley (23) found the species in 1891 extending northward in North
America "nearly to the Arctic Circle" and the "Yukon River," Scud-
der (26) found by 1898 "it practically covers the whole of North
America north of Mexico and is found far within Mexico itself."
Hebard (46) says in 1925, "It is generally distributed over all (North
America) but the tropical lowlands of Mexico, reaching Northward
over all the United States except peninsular Florida and California
west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is reported from Yukon
River and Alaska."

There are 450 males and 353 females represented in the collection
at the Utah State Agricultural College, taken in all the counties of the
state except Garfield.

The collections were made by E. G. Titus, C. J. Sorenson, H. J.
Pack, H. B. Stafford, G. F. Knowlton, W. S. Thomas, E. W. Anthon,
F. C. Harmston, Lowell Cutler, M. J. Janes, Newel Fowler, D. M.
Hammond and W. W. Henderson.

The collections date from 1907 to 1942. Earliest collection date

r\"t. 27. 1044 nF.VAS'rA'riNc. Mi:i..\\()ri,i oi- i'iaii 5

was May 30. latest ()cI()!)(.t 12. 'Vhv collectors were all students or
teachers tied to class rooms am! lahoratinies from October to May.
which no doubt accounts for tlic lack of colkctions on earlier or on
later dates.

e. bxononiic Importance:

This species not onI\- covers a wide ran^e of lerritfjry l)ut a ijjreat
man\- kinds of cn\iro!inu'iil. Il is found in all sorts of cultivated fields
and infests practically- all kinds of crops. Corkins (45) says "it has
not been known to refuse any cultivatefl plant and will even ^naw dry
wood such as fence ])osls and llie handles of farm tools." It does not
occur in swamps and only by accident in damp ])astures or in dense
forests. Tt is found in larye numbers at low elevations and also in
hiyii mountains, .""^cudder (26) found it conunon on the lop ot Mount
Washington in New Hampshire and at a level of 9500 feet in Ameri-
can Fork Canyon in Utah. Caudel (28) found the species on the
summit of Pike's Peak in Colorado, and Hebard (51) repoils it at
elevations of 11,000 and 12,000 feet in New Mexico. Marcovitch (40)
says the species "was taken on top of Clint,mian's Dome, elevation
6.612 feet." (Tennessee). Scudder (18) found this destructive species
to be "extremely abundant" in "all parts of Colorado to Salt Lake"
in 1876 and the same }-ear (PJ) found it everywhere common in New
Eiii^land. Riley (17) found it "very conunon in Missouri in 1878,"
Bruner (21) reported it as "doing damage to crops and vegetation in
general" in 1883, and Lugger (24) recorded. "This is one of our most
injurious locusts, and almost always found in our state (Minnesota)
in destructive numbers." P.\- 1897. .Scudder (25) regarded this spe-
cies "Next to ill. spretus — the most destructive locust." Morse (32)
observed it in 1904 "nearly everywhere" in Tennessee, and said it is
"l)erha])S the most dangerous, potentially, of any species inhabiting
the region." and in this same year. Gillette (30) pronounced it "un-
doubtedly the most generally distril)uled species of locust in Colorado."
Severin and Gilbertson (38) listed it in 1917 among the four sjjecies
of "grasshop])ers which do the greatest amount of damage in ."^outh
Dakota," and Fox (37) classed it, in the same year, as the "dominant
grasshopper east of the (Appalachian) Mountains. I'lalchle}- (39)
said in 1920, "This is a ver\' common locust ihrouglioul Indiana, hav-
ing been taken in every count\' in which collections have been made."
Tn 1921. Morse (42) listed the species among the grasshoppers likely
to cause injur}- in Maine. In the same \-e;ir, Puckell (41) recorded
that "larije swaniis of M claiiohhis atlanis had been (k'vouring e\-er\--

The Great Basin Naturalist
6 W. W. HENDERSON Vol. V, NoS. 1 , 2,

thing that the settlers planted during the last three years" in certain
sections of British Columbia. Hubbel (44) said in 1922, "In point of
view of destructiveness, this species surpasses all others in North Da-
kota," and in the same year (43), "This species far exceeds all others
in abundance in this region" (Michigan). In 1928 Hebard (47) found
that "undoubtedly uiexicanus mexicanus is responsible for the greater
portion of the damage caused by Orthoptera in Montana, both in cul-
tivation and on the range," and the same author (48) said in 1929,
"the most generally distributed grasshopper in Colorado — most de-
structive species to the native range — not averse to feeding on culti-
vated crops." and "Gillette (30) considers it one of the most destructive
species to the Native range." Hebard also (49) found it "probably
the most numerous grasshopper everywhere in the state." (Kansas) ?
Strand (50) recorded in 1934, "In many of these counties (Montana)
the eggs of the lesser migratory locust (Mclanoplus mexicanus) were
so abundant that as high as 30 egg pods, each containing about 20
eggs, could be found per square foot of stubble." In 1938 Isley (54)
listed it among the Acrididae of economic importance in Texas. It
would seem that Ball et al (55) were well justified in recording
Meanopliis mexicanus mexicanus (Saussure) as "the most injurious
locust in the United States."

Observations in Utah lead to the conclusion that this remarkable
insect is the most destructive orthopteriod in the state and this con-
clusion led to the examination of its economic status elsewhere, only
to find the same condition in other states. It might be added, inci-
dentally, that although this insect has been numerous in Utah, there
has never been a migratory movement observed.

It would seem that among numerous species struggling for exist-
ence, Mclanoplus mexicanus mexicanus (Saussure) has found the
struggle an easy one, or has found the way of successful living. If
there is a goal of perfection in locust-hood, this species seems to have
arrived at that goal.

4. MELAXOPLUS PACKARDII (Scudder) (See PI. I fig 2)
a. Synonymy :

1. 1875 — Scudder. Caloptcnus fasciatus, Acrydii ( Pezotettix

Caloptenus) (13: p. 76)

2. 1877 — Bruner, Caloptenus fasciatus, (16: p. 144)

3. 1878— Scudder. packardii, (18: p. 289)

4. 1880— Scudder, (20: p. 24)

Oct. 27. 1944 DFA'ASTATINf; IVf KI.A N( )IT.I Ol" TTAII 7

5. 1883— ?.runcr. (21 : p. 60)

6. 1003— Cauflell. (29: p. 88)
/. 1906— Rehn. ( .U : p. 288)

8. 1910— Kirby. (35: pp. 524-5)

9. 1920— KJatchley. (39: pp. 429-431)
10. 192.=^-~][charfl." (46: ]>. 36)

li. IX- .'Script ion :

The characteristic color of a lar,q;e number of specimen.s from many
(lifiFerent localities in Utah, displayed toijether is medium brown, var}'-
iui,^ in one direction towards ve]lo\\'ish or li,s^ht brown and in the oppo-
site direction towards deep brcnvn. .Vmont,^ the specimens of li<,diter
shade, some show a slight ,<,n-eenish tin^e. and amonjc^ the specimens of
darker shade, a few show a i)urplish tin,<,a'. The c(jns])icuous le,<js are
•generally a little lii^liter in color than tlie bodw

Characteristic markini^s consist of lon^^itudinal stripes f)n the head
and prothorax. a dark medium stripe, bordered on each side by a much
liijhter stripe which traverses each shoulder, and this bordered by a
blackish stripe on the u])])er half of side. The markin^^s vary greatly
from distinct to ver}- faint: in none of the normal, mature specimens
is there a complete al)sence of all of these stripes. Tlie brii^dit red or
pinkish hind tibiae stand out conspicuouslv. only about one in fift\' or
more specimens show the tibiae blue.

Head of moderate size: face somewliat slant; compound eyes
slij^^htly e]onij^ate;vctc.r scutellate. declivent. closed anteriorily : frontal
costa slijjhtly narrowed at its be.e^inninsj^. sli_sThtly widenini^- downward,
then slis^htly narrowin^j as it approaches the clypeus. Three trans-
verse incisions cross the dorsal surface of the thorax, the liindmost
two continuous on the sides, the most posterior incision sli<jhtly behind
the middle. Hind femorae with two darker spots crossing the upper
margin : ])lain on the outside.

Tegminae nearly or cpiite unmarked, usually longer tlian the ab-
domen in both sexes: wings well developed, pellucid.

Cerci of tlie male widest at base, narrowest near the middle and
spoon shaped at tip. Furculae widely divergent, extending one-third
tlif length of the supra-anal plate. .Subgenital ])late strong, conspicu-
ous and slightly pointed at tip.

The initial descrii)tion by .Scudder (13) is a good one. A more
Complete descri])tion is given 1)\- Scudder in a later publication (25)
and also bv Ulatclilev (.39).

The Great Basin Naturalist
8 W. W. HENDERSON Vol. V, NoS. 1 , 2,

c. Measurements:

Male :

Body length :

Average for 100 specimens 28 mm.

Shortest body in 100 specimens 22 mm.

Longest body in 100 specimens 33 mm.
Hind femora length :

Average for 100 specimens 16 mm.

Shortest femur in 100 specimens 13 mm.

Longest femur in 100 specimens 19 mm.
Tegmina length :

Average for 100 specimens 23 mm.

Shortest tegmina for 100 specimens 18 mm.

Longest tegmina for 100 specimens 28 mm.

Female :

Body length :

Average for 100 specimens 33 mm.

Shortest body in 100 specimens 27 mm.

Longest body in 100 specimens 40 mm.
Hind femora length :

Average for 100 specimens 18 mm.

Shortest femur in 100 specimens 15 mm.

Longest femur in 100 specimens 22 mm.
Tegmina length :

Average for 100 specimens 24 mm.

.Shortest tegmina for 100 specimens 20 mm.

Longest tegmina for 100 specimens 29 mm.

d. Geographical Distribution :

Melanoplus packardii (Scudder) was described in 1875 (13) from
two male specimens taken at Dallas, Texas, and one female taken at
Glencoe, Nebraska. Three years later the species was known by Scud-
der (18) to exist at Great Salt Lake, Utah, South Park and southern
Colorado, at Wallula on the Columbia River and in British Columbia,
besides Nebraska and Texas. In 1897, Scudder (25) added California,
Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas,. Nevada
and New Mexico to the list of states where the species was known to
range. Scudder's Index (27) adds Yellowstone, Assiniboine, North
Dakota and Minnesota. Hebard (46) says the species is limited on
the east to extreme western Minnesota and extreme western Iowa,

( )ct. 17 , 1944 DKVASTATINC, M KLANOl'LI Ol' ITAH . 9

eastern Kansas, parts of Oklahoma aii<l Texas, all llie states westward
and southwestern Canada. M. packardii ranges to high elevations,
8,000 to 10,000 feet, in the Rocky Mountains as found by Rehn in
1906 [re).

Summary distribution of Mela no pi us packardii (Scudder) in Utah,
is made from a collection of 103 males and 171 females taken in all
counties except Morgan, Wasatch, Daggett, Wayne and Summit.
Specimens were collected from 1921 to 1941 by the following workers:
W. W. Henderson, G. F. Knowlton, F. K. Stoffers, F. C. Harmston,
R. A. Zirker, W. L. Thomas, H. B. Stafford, A. W. Levi, C. J. Soren-
son, H. J. Pack, M. J. Janes, F. H. Gunnell, T.. J. Whitaker, O. Cannon,
J. A. Meacham, and C. L. Nielson. Earliest seasonal date of collec-
tion, April 14; latest seasonal date, October 9.

e. Economic Importance:

Scudder said in 1878 (18) that M . packardii "is an abundant spe-
cies" east of the Sierras to Nebraska and from British Columbia to
Texas. Abundance of grasshoppers means destructiveness. Gillette
recorded in 1904 (30) that it is a "common species over all the eastern
portion of the state (Colorad(j) U) the foothills and it also occurs in
the grassy glades and mountain parks of the eastern slope to an alti-
tude of 8,000 feet or more." Rocky Mountain states evidently provide
a favorable environment for this species. On the other hand. Somes
(36) records in 1914, "We have found it sparsely in dry sandy fields
and along road sides at Granite Falls, Foxhome, Fergus Falls, Hibbing
and Duluth" (Minnesota). Buckell (41) said in 1921 that M. packardii
is "one of the species responsible for grasshopper outbreaks in Canada."
Hubbell (44) pronounced it "moderately common" throughout the
state of Michigan in 1922. Hebard (53) said that it is among those
grasshoppers which severely menace crops in North Dakota, "one of
the most destructive species" cjn the prairies and plains (47). "one of
the most destructive species" in Montana (47) and "we have found it
dangerously plentiful in cultivated areas a number of times." (48).

5. A'lELAXOPLUS IIIVITTATUS (Say) (See PI. I fig. 3)

a. Synonymy :

1. 1825— Say, Gryllus, (4: p. 308)

2. 1862— Scudder. Caloptcuits, (8: pp. 465-466)

3. 1873— Thomas. Caloptcmis, (11: p. 158. 166)

4. 1878— Riley. Cahptemis, (17: p. 459)

5. 1897— Scudder, Mclanoplns, (25: pp. 363-368)

The Great llasiu Naturalist

10 w. \v. iiKNUKKsoN Vol. V, Nos. 1 , 2,

6. 1897— Lugger, (24: pp. 296-298)

7. 1903— Caudell, (28: p. 799)

8. 190()— Rchn and Hehard, (34: )

h. Description :

A large nunilier of specimens examined together look much like so
many I'ackard locusts. They average larger in size than Packards,
but in color and markings there is so close a resemblance that amateurs
often confuse the two.

The predominating color is brown, ranging from yellowish into
dark brown. Newly emerged specimens are light yellowish, often
with a tinge of green ; old specimens are dark brown with tegminae
and wings often worn and shabby. The most conspicuous color mark-
ings consist of two long yellowish stripes each of which arises above
and in front of the compound eye. The two stripes diverge as they
pass caudad along the edge of the pronotum until they reach its tip
and then converge down the humeral angle of the tegmina until they
meet and continue as a single stripe which fades out toward the tip.
The stripes enclose a brcnvnish (jr yellowish spindle-shaped area on
the back.

Head moderate in size, face somewhat slant, cheeks without con-
spicuous color markings. Scutellum of the vertex and temporal fov-
oelae feebly impressed in the male, obliterate in the female ; frontal
carina narrowest at the ape.x, only slightly widening below and feebly
scutellate in the region of the central ocellus, more feebly in the female
than the male. Compound eyes moderately large, nearly circular at
base, the verticle radius only slightly greater than the horizontal. An-
tennae about as long as the front legs in the male, sub-equal in the
female.

Pronotum widest behind, especially in the female ; central carina
low but conspicuous ; three transverse incisions, the most posterior
slightly behind the middle of the pronotum and more distant from the
mid-incision than is the most anterior incision. Sides of the pronotum
with a black line extending along the upper edge from the anterior
margin to the third incision. Legs yellowish, front and middle pairs

Plate I

Fig. 1. Melanoplus Mexicanus Mexicanus (Saussure)

Fig. 2. Melanoplus Packardii (Scudder)

Fig. 3. Melanoplus Bivittatus (Say)

Fig. 4. Melanoplus Femur-Rubrum (De Geer)

Oct. 27. 1944 OKVASTATIXC MKI.ANOIM.I Ol- 11 Al

11

^l^?"**^

7^.. V*?'
^

^■'cW^

Plate I

Tlie Great I'asin Naturalist

12 w . w. hi:ndkr.son Vol. V, Nos. 1, 2,

uitlKHit inarkin,i;s, hind lei^s w illi a blackisli Icjiigitudinal stripe on the
outer and upper surfaces t^t the femur, tliat on the upper edge some-
times cUscontinuous t(j f(jrm spots ; hind tibiae yellowish to greenish
black. Tegminae narrow and long, about ecjualing the abdomen in
females but exceeding it in males. Wings medium long, broad and
pellucid.

Abdomen elongate, yellowish and without color markings. Anal
cerci of the male boot-shaped, viewed from the side with the tip
of the boot farthest from the attachment to the body, heel directed
posterio-ventrad ; f urculae vestigial. Subgenital plate with conspicu-
ous tip. strongly elevated and pointed.

For more extensive and more technical description, see Scudder
(25) or Blatchley (39).

c. Measurements :
Male :

Body length :

Average for 100 specimens 30 mm.

Shortest body in 100 specimens 26 mm.

Longest body in 100 specimens 35 mm.
Hind femora length :

Average for 100 specimens 24 mm.

Shortest femur in 100 specimens 21 mm.

Longest femur in 100 specimens 29 mm.
Tegmina length ;

Average for 100 specimens 18 mm.

Shortest tegmina for 100 specimens 15 mm.

Longest tegmina for 100 specimens 24 mm.

Female :

Body length :

Average for 80 specimens 40 mm.

Shortest body in 80 specimens 32 mm.

Longest body in 80 specimens 48 mm.
Hind femora length :

Average for 80 s])ecimens 28 mm.

Shortest femur in 80 specimens 24 mm.

Longest femur in 80 specimens 35 mm.
Tegmina length :

Average for 80 specimens 22 mm.

Shortest tegmina for 80 specimens 17 mm.

Longest tegmina for 80 specimens 25 mm.

Oci. 27. r'44 i)i;\ASTATiN(; mi-i.axoi'i.i oi- itaii 13

(1. ( ic(),i;i"ai)hical I )istril)uli()n :

In his "Materials for a nujiia^i-apli of ihc North American (Jrthop-
lera." published in 1862, Scudder (8) j^avc the places where the species
had heen found as Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Maryland.
Texas, Nebraska. Illinois, Minnesota and Lake Winnipeg. In 1868
(9), he added "Atlantic states, western part of the country," and
Baltimore. Jn 1872, Thomas (10) recorded the species as being "east
of the (Rocky) mountains from New Mexico to Montana, and west
oi them, from Salt Lake to the North headwaters of the Snake River."
The next year (11), 1873, he added states not mentioned before —
New York, Pennsylvania, Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas,
Missouri, Kansas. Iowa, Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho.
In 1897, Scudder (25) added (Jhio, Indiana. Manitoba, Yellowstone,
Washington, and several locations in Canada and Mexico. In 1903,
Caudell (29) found the species in Oklahoma. Hebard (52) and Ball
(55) both record it for Arizona. There seems to be no record of its
discovery as yet in (Oregon and California or in Alabama and Florida.
It is therefore known all over North America except the far north
of Canada and the far south of Mexico and southward. It's distri-
bution is apparently highly discontinuous, so that large stretches of
territory within the greater limits of the range do not contain it. Scud-
der (25) says tlie species is "'unknown along the Atlantic seaboard."

The collection of Melanoplns bivittatus (Say) in Utah, consists of
134 males and 95 females taken in the following counties: Box Elder,
Cache. Weber. Davis, Tooele, Salt Lake, Utah, Wasatch, Duchesne.
Uintah, Juab. Millard, Sanpete. Sevier, Emery. Grand. Washington,
Kane, Garfield. It was collected by the following workers: W. W.
Henderson, G. F. Knowlton, 15. G. Whitaker. J. A. Meacham, T. O.
Thatcher, R. Rosekelley, A. W. Levi, R. E. Nye, L. Nielson. H. B.
Stafford, G. S. Stains, C. J. Sorenson, F. K. Stoffers. Newel Fowler,
F. C. Harmston, R. A. Zirker. C. F. Smith, M. J. Janes, W. Thomas,
Don Ashdown, Ted Anthon. and R. S. Roberts. Collections were
taken from 1921 to 1941 ; earliest seasonal date, Ai)ril 27. latest sea-
sonal date, October 25.

e. Economic Importance :

Rilev said in 1891 (23) that this species "often becomes locally
abundant enough to do much damage to crops." This seems to be the
earliest reference to the economic inii)orlancc of .1/. hivUtatus. In
1897, Lugger (24) reported it to be "a very common and destructive
locust — found in all parts of the state" (Minnesota). By 1904 Gillette

The Great Basin Naturalist
14 W. W. ITKNDERSON Vol. V, NoS. 1 , 2,

(30) liad discovered it lo be "uiidouljtcdly the most injurious grass-
hopper ill Colorado." In more modern hterature, Severin and Gilbert-
son (38) found it among the principal injurious grasshoppers of South
Dakota. Morse (42) found it "common throughout New England,"
"sometimes doing much injury." Blatchley (39) recorded it "one of
the most common of our early summer locusts, occurring everywhere
throughout the state." (Indiana). Buckell (41) lists it among locusts
which periodically cause severe injury to range land, vegetable crops
and orchard trees in British Columbia. Morse (42) pronounced M.
hivittatus "one of our four most dangerous species in the State"
(Maine). Hubbel (44) said in 1922, "a considerable portion of the
locust injuries are undoubtedly due to the ravages of this species."
Corkins (45) found it "the most destructive (grasshopper) species
known." It is probable that the last named author has reference to
the state of Colorado. Mills (56) noted in 1942 that the species ranks
second in importance in Montana. Hebard (53) found it one of "the
most destructive species," and Ball's recent summary (55) seems to
state the situation especially well when he describes the species as
"one of the most injurious in the western United States."

6. MELANOPLUS FEMUR-RUBRUM (De Geer) (See PI. I fig. 4)

a. Synonymy :

1. 1773— De Geer, Acridium, { 1 : p. 498)

2. 1788 — Gmelin. CryUus (Lociista) cryfliropus, (2: p. 2086)

3. 1791 — Olivier, Acrydium famoralc, (3: p. 228)

4. 1838 — Burmeister, Caloptcniis, (5: p. 638)

5. 1852 — Harris, Acrydiimi, (6: pp. 151-152)

6. 1873— Thomas, Caloptenns, (11: p. 163)

7. 1883— Bruner, (21 : p. 60)

8. 1897— Scudder, (25: p. 278)

9. 1910— Kirby, (35: p. 522)
10. 1928— Hebard. (47: p. 275)

b. Description :

The three colors, gray, brown and black, each losing itself some-
what in the other two, are the colors which prevail in Melanoplus
femur-rnhrum and in the order given. The purpose served in the
harmonious blend of the three colors is to make the insect inconspicu-
ous in its peculiar environment. In some pasture environments, some
specimens show a yellowish tinge on the under parts, some show a
greenish tinge on the upper parts.

Oct. 2.7 , 1*>44 i)i:\ as'iatim; MF.r-ANoi'Lr of utah 15

Imcc nearly slraii;lil, thai is, almost at right aiit^les to tin- doisal
liiK' of the licad and pronotuni. Compound eyes large, scarcely or not
at all \isil)Ie to each other over the vertex, upper tip more forward
than the lower tij), front margin nearl}' straight, hind margin broadly
rounded. Sculellum of the vertex well im[)ressed, mostly anterior to
the upper tips of the compound eyes and with lateral carinae conspicu-
ous. I'^ontal carinae narrowest at the apex and widest where it nearly
joins the cl\i)eus. Antennae about as long as the head and pronotum
together.

Dorsal surface of the pronotum nearl\- the same width throughi^ut,
with mid-dorsal carina low but conspicuous, cut b}' three transverse
incisions, the three closest together at the dorsal carina, the third
slightl}", if at all, closer to the hind margin than the front. Sides of
the i)ronoiuni w ith a conspicuous black band extending from the hind
margin of the ccjmpcnmd eye along the upper region to the third trans-
verse incision. Tegminae and wings nearly, if not fully, devoid of
color pattern, extending to the tip of the abdomen or slightly longer.
First and second pairs of legs without color markings, the hind pair
with three black spots along the upper, inner margin of the femur;
tibiae red.

Abdomen variously colored from 3ellowish to blackish. Anal circi
of the male nearly twice as wide in the basal half as in the distal half.
Furculae two-thirds the length of the supra-genital plate, contiguous
in the basal third, tlience each narrowed on the inner side to the tip.
Subanal plate with slightly sinuous, carinate margin.

c. Measurements:

Male :

Body length :

Average for 100 specimens 20 mm.

Shortest body in 100 specimens 18 mm.

Longest body in 100 specimens 24 mm.
Hind femora length :

Average for 100 si)ecimens 12 mm.

Shortest femur in 100 specimens 10 mm.

Longest femur in 100 specimens 14 mm.
Tegmina length :

Average for 100 specimens 16.1 mm.

Shortest tegmina for 100 specimens lo mm.

Longest tegmina for 100 specimens 20 mm.
Female :

The Great Basin Naturalist
16 \V. W. HRNDEKSON Vol. V, NoS. 1 , 2,

Body length :

Average for 100 specimens 24 mm.

Shortest body in 100 specimens 19 mm.

Longest body in 100 specimens 28 mm.
Hind femora length :

Average for 100 specimens 13 mm.

Shortest femur in 100 specimens 10 mm.

Longest femur in 100 specimens 15 mm.
Tegmina length :

Average for 100 specimens 18 mm.

Shortest tegmina for 100 specimens 6 mm.

Longest tegmina for 100 specimens 23 mm.

d. Geographical distribution :

De Geer (1) described M. feniur-riihrum from specimens sent to
him from Pennsylvania. It may be assumed, therefore, that the species
was first known from that state, in the year 1773. Harris says (6)
that "It appears to be very generally diffused throughout the United
States." Scudder (8) definitely records the species from Massachu-
setts, Maine, Connecticut, Illinois. Minnesota and Nebraska in 1862.
Thomas (10) says in 1872, that Walker claimed to have found the
species in Vancouver. The next year he (11) added New York, Mary-
land, Tennessee, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming to
previously known /t"^;/ur-ru5rM;H territory. Thomas (15) added Iowa
to the known distribution in 1876. The species was first collected in
Utah by Dr. A. S. Packard in 1877 (20). In 1878, Scudder (18) re-
ported the species from California, Oregon, Texas, Florida, as well
as Canada and Mexico. He added Nevada (20) in 1880. Wlien
Scudder published his "Revision of Melanopli" in 1897 (25), his rec-
ord of geographical distribution for femiir-ruhrum included all the
states but ten, and many places in Canada and Old Mexico. Kirby
(35) recorded the distrilnition as North America and Mexico in 1910
and Hebard (47) gave it in 1928 as "entire U. S. — Nova Scotia (to)
British Columbia — to Atoyac in Vera Cruz."

Summary of distribution of Mclanoplus fcuiiir-rubruiu (De Geer)
in Utah: 216 males and 176 females are represented in the Utah State
collection, taken in the following counties : Box Elder, Cache, Rich,
Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, Summit, Duchesne, Uintah, Juab,
Millard, Sanpete, Sevier, Carbon, Emery, Grand, Washington, Wayne,
Garfield, Kane and San Juan. They were collected by the following
workers :W. W. Henderson, Geo. F. Knowlton, B. A. Haws, C. J.

Oct. 27. 1044 nKVASTATINC. Mi:i..\N(H'!.l OF ITAIl 17

Sorenson. !•'.. W. AiuIkiii. R. S. RoIictIs, F. C. Harmston, Gcfj. H.
Ilarmston, A. W. Levi. C I,. Xicl^.oii. Hon P^'onk. 1'',. G. Tilus. I''. J.
(lardcner. j. A. Mcacheni, 1\. I'".. Xye. T. A. Wal(|uist, L. Culler,
Xewel Fowler, W M. Ilanimond. (ieo. F. KinJ,^ and II. j. Pack. Col-
lections were made from 100/ to 1041 with the earliest seasonal date.
May 15, and the latest, October 0.

e. I'lconomic Importance:

Harris (6) said of faniir-rubrum , in 1852, "It appears to be very
5i^enerall\- ditYused ihroui^hout the L'nited States, and sometimes so
o^reatly abounds, in certain places, as to be productive of i,n-eat injury
to veijetation." Fernald (22) wrote a quarter of century later, "one of
llie most common s^rasshoppers in Xew luigland." Riley (23 ) record-
ed in 1801, "abundant in Mississippi Valley" — "local damaj^e more or
less abundant throu.^hout its ranije." A few years later, in 1897,
Lugj^er (24) pronounced it "our most common locust (Minnesota)
found everywhere and usuall\' in very lar5.^"e numl)ers."

More recent fm(linij;s have fully confirmed earlier observations.
Gillette (30) writes, "next to atlauis the most generally distributed —
next to hk'ittatus prol)a])ly the most injurious species in Colorado.''
Fox {?)7 ) pronounced it "The dominant grasshopper of the Ap])ala-
tion province." Severin antl Gilbertson (38) list it as "the principal
injurious grasshopper" of South Dakota; Morse (42) says "Prob-
ably our most generally distril)uted and most injurious grasshopper" ;
Blatchley (39) calls it "the most common and one of the most in-
jurious of our Indiana locusts"; Marcovitch (40) records "common
throughout Tennessee — must be considered one of our economic
forms"; Buckell (41) has the species listed among those responsible
for grasshopper outbreaks in Canada ; and again among locusts which
periodically cause severe injury to range land, vegetable crops and
orchard trees in I>ritish Columbia; Morse (42) again says the species
"to which most injury done to crops is attributed" in Maine. Hubbell
(43) mentions that it is "very common in marshes, lowlands and \\\)-
land thickets and in forest margins, grassy fields and pastures, cultivat-
ed fields, etc." Corkins (45) pronounces it "commonly more abundant
(than mcxicatuis) in cultivated fields"; Tlebard (47) says it is "usu-
ally abundant and probably doing much damage in the aggregate" ; but
that (46) it "never appears in devastating multitudes"; and that (40)
it is "particularly injurious to alfalfa" in Kansas. Pall (55) consid-
ered M . fcnmr-rubnim to be "one of the most destructive grasshoi)pers
of the United States and Canada."

The Great Basin Naturalist
18 \V. W. HKNDKKSON \'ol. \', NoS. 1 , 2,

7. GRASSHOPPER COXTROL IX UTAH

Tn recent years the United States Bureau of Entomology and Plant
Quarantine, has cooperated with the states in a nation-wide grass-
hopper control program. Methods used have consisted largely in
poisoning the insects with sodium arsenite, and in 1943 a sodium flu-
osilicate bait provided by the government, and used under direct su-
pervision of the local organization. The following table gives an
estimate of losses and crop savings effected by the federal-state-county
grasshopper control program since 1937:

Table 1 — Estimated crop losses, and savings resulting from grass-
hopper control, 1937-1943.

Estimated
Year Loss Saving

1937 $950,000 $854,800

1938 650.000 1,062,350

1939 543,891 674,286

1940 424,363 439,087

1941 451,538 789,089

1942 730,687 797,760

1943 683,308 748,962

Total $4,433,787 $5,366,334

Average $ 633,398 $ 766,619

Prepared from material jirovided by Dr. G. F. Knowlton, state
grasshopper control leader.

8. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The four species of Orthoptera treated in this paper were deter-
mined by A. N. Caudel, former Curator of Orthoptera at the United
States National Museum. The manuscript has been read and valu-
able suggestions given by Mr. James A. G. Rehn, Chairman, Publica-
tions Committee and Curator of Insects at The Academy of Natural
Sciences of Philadelphia. Very much of value in this paper is due
these scientists who are in no way responsible for any errors that may
be found in the paper.

The illustrations are photographs made by Mr. Wm. C. Matthews
of the University of California at Berkeley and retouched in pencil
bv the author.

Oct. 27, 1944 DKVASTATINC; MKI.ANon.I OF ITAH 19

9. LITERA rUKl': CITED

1. 1773 — DeGeer, Carl. Memoircs ])our servir a IMiistoire des in-

sects. V. 3. Stockholm.

2. 1788 — Gmelin. J. F. Linnaeus, Systema Naturae. (From Kirby

V. 3. p. 522)

3. 1791— Olivier, Encycl. Meth. Ins. VI. ( l"rom Kirby v. 3, p. 522)

4. 1825 — Say, Thomas. Description of new liemiplerous insects col-

lected in the expedition to the Rocky Mountains under com-
mand of Major Long. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. Jour. v. 4.

5. 1839 — Burmeister, Hermann. Ilan(l])uch der entomologie. v. 2.

Berlin.

6. 1852 — Harris, T. W. Insects injurious to vegetation. Boston

(?)513p.

7. 1861— Saussure, Henri de. CJrthoptera Nova Americana. Rev. et

Alag. Zool. v. 8, 2nd series. Paris.

8. 1862— Scudder, S. H. North American Orthoptera. B^oston

Jour. Nat. Hist. 7: (3).

9. 1868— Scudder, S. H. Catalogue of the Orthoptera of North

America. Smithsn. Inst. Misc. Collect. 189: 409-480.

10. 1872 — Thomas, Cyrus. Notes on the saltatorial Orthoptera of

the Rocky Mountain region. U. S. Geological survey. Pre-
liminary report of Montana and adjacent territory, being a fifth
annual report of progress by F. V. Hayden. pp. 423-466.

11. 1873 — Thomas, Cyrus. Synopsis of the Acrididae of North

America. U. S. Geol. Survey. Survey of the territories, 5 :
(1) 1-262.

12. 1875 — Riley, C. V. Annual report on the noxious, beneficial and

other insects of the state of Missouri. Seventh annual rept.
Jefferson City.

13. 1875— Scudder, S. H. A century of Orthoptera. Boston Soc.

Nat. Hist. 17: 472-478.

14. 1876 — Riley, C. V. Annual report on the noxious, beneficial and

other insects of the state of Missouri. Eighth annual rept.

15. 1876 — Thomas, Cyrus. A list of Orthoptera collected by J. Dun-

can Putnam chiefly in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming terri-
tories. Davenport Acad. .Sci. l^-oc. 1 : 249-264.

16. 1877 — Bruner, Lawrence. List of Accrididae found in Nebraska.

Canad. Ent. 9 : (8) 144-145.

17. 1878— Riley, C. V. Report on the Rockv Mountain locust. U. S.

Ent. Cor^. Report for 1877: 1-478, App. 1-294.

The Great Basin Naturalist

20 w. w. rrKNDERSON Vol. V, Nos. 1, 2,

18. 1878 — Scudder. S. H. Brief notice of the American species of

Alelanoplus found west of the 117th meridian. T'oston Soc.
Nat. Hist. Proc. 19: 286-290.

19. 1878 — Scudder, S. H. Remarks on Caloptenus and Melanoplus

with notice of the species found in New England. Boston Soc.
Nat. Hist. Proc. 19: 281-286.

20. 1880^Scudder, S. H. List of Orthoptera collected by Dr. A. S.

Packard. Jr. in the western United States in the summer of
1877. U. S. Ent. Com. Second rept. App. 2. pp. 23-28.

21. 1883 — Bruner. Lawrence. Notes on other locusts and on the

western cricket. L^. S. Ent. Com. 3(1 rept. pp. 53-64.

22. 1888— Fernald. C. H. Orthoptera of New England. Boston.

Wright and Potter. ])\). 1-61.

23. 1891— Rilev. C. A'. Destructive locusts. U. S. Dept. Agr. Div.

Ent. Bui 25. pp. 1-62.

24. 1897 — Lugger. Otto. Orthoptera of Minnesota. Minn. Agr. Exp.

Sta. Bui.' 55. pp. 9L386.

25. 1897. Scudder, S. H. Revision of the orthopteran group Mel-

anopli with special reference to North American forms. U. S.
Nat. Mus. Proc. 20: L421.

26. 1898 — Scudder. S. H. The alpine Orthoptera of North America.

Appalachia 8: 299-319.

27. 1901 — Scudder, S. H. Index to North American Orthopera.

Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. Occas. papers 6: 1-436.

28. 1903— Caudell, A. N. Notes on Orthoptera from Colorado, New

Mexico, Arizona and Texas with descriptions of new species.
U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc. 26: 775-809.

29. 1903 — Caudell, A. N. Notes on Orthoptera from Oklahoma and

Indian territory, with descriptions of three new species. Amer.
Ent. Soc. Trans. 28: 83-91.

30. 1904 — Gillette, C. P. Annotated list of Colorado Orthoptera.

Colo. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 94: 1-56.

31. 1904 — Mead. C. S. A list of Orthoptera of Ohio. Ohio Nat. 4:

(5) 109-112.

32. 1904 — Morse, A. P. Researches on Nortli American Acrididae.

Carnegie Inst. Wash. Pub. 18: 1-55.

33. 190(^Rehn, J. A. G. Some Utah Orthoptera. Ent. News 17:

284-288.

34. 1906 — Rehn, J. A. G., and Hebard, Morgan. A contribution to

the knowledge of Orthoptera of Montana, Yellowstone Park,
Utah and Colorado. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. Proc. pp. 358-418.

( h'\.17. 1"'44 i)i-:\AS'iAi'i.\(i M i;i..\.\()n.i oi- i r.\n 21

•vr I'MO- Kiil)\-, \\ . h\ A synoptic calalomue of ( )rllioi)lcra. Lon-
don, r.rit. Mus. Xal. llisi. .v 50*^-533.

M). I'M-l — SonK'S. M. I'. IIk' Arrididac of Minnesota. Minn. Agr.
l-.xp. Sta. I'.ul. 141 : l-KH).

.^7. 1917 — Fo.\, ll(,nr\-. 1^'icld notes on N'iii^inia ( )rthoptcra. U. S.
Nat. Mus. I'roJ. 32: 199-2.U.

.>S. 1917 — Severin, H. C, and (jilhcrtson, G. J. Grasshoppers and
llicir control. .S. Dak. .\,^t. I-.xp. Sta. Bui. 172: 550-589.

39. 1920 — r.latchlcv. W. .S. ( )rllioptera of northeastern America.

Indianopolis, Ind., Nature I'ub. Co. 784 pp.

40. 1920 — Marcovitcli. .S. Grasshoppers of Tennessee. Tenn. State

P.d. VaU. i'.ul. .v^>: 1-112.

41. 1921 — Uuekell. \i. R. The locusts of British C<jlumbia. Ent. Soc.

Brit. Columbia. Proc. l{lcon. ser. 13, 15.

42. 1921 — Morse, A. P. ( )rthoptera of Maine. Maine. Agr. Exp.

Sta. Bui. 296: 1-36.

43. 1922— Hubbell, T. H. The Dermaptera and Orthoptera of Ber-

rien County, Michigan. Mich. Univ. Mus. Zool. Occas. papers
116: 1-77.

44. 1922— Hubbell. T. H. Notes on the Orthoptera of North Da-

kota. Mich. Univ. Mus. Zool. Occas. papers 113: 1-56.

45. 1923 — Corkins, C. L. Grasshopper control in Colorado. Colo.

Agri. Exp. Sta. Bui. 287. 19 pp.

46. 1925 — Hebard, Morgan. The Orthoptera of Soutl: Dakota.

Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. Proc. 77: 33-155.

47. 1928 — Hebard, Morgan. The Orthoptera of Montana. Acad.

Nat. Sci. Phila. Proc. 80: 211-306.

48. 1929— Hebard, Morgan. The Orthoptera of Colorado. Acad.

Nat. Sci. Phila. Proc. 81 : 303-425.

49. 1931— Hebard, Morgan. The Orthopera of Kansas. Acad. Nat.

Sci. Phila. Proc. 83: 119-227.

50. 1934 — Strand, A. L. Montana insect pests for 1933 and 1934.

25th report of the state entomologist of Montana. Mt)nt. Agr.
Exp. Sta. I'.ul. 294. 40 pp.

51. 1935 — Hebard, Morgan. Orthoptera of the upper Rio Cirande

Valley and the adjacent mountains in northern New Mexico.
Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. Proc. 87: 45-82.

52. 1936 — Hebard, Morgan. .Studies in the Orthoptera of .Arizona.

Amer. bjit. Soc. Trans. 61 : 269-316.

53. 1936— Hebard. Morgan. Orllioplera of North Dakota. N. Dak.

Agr. I'.xp. Sta. Bui. 284: 1-66.

The Great Basin Naturalist

22 w. \v. iiKNDKKsoN Vol. V, Nos. 1 , 2,

54. 1938 — Isley, F. K. The relation of Texas Acrididae to plants and

soils. Ecol. monog. 8: 551-604.

55. 1942 — Ball, E. D., et al. The grasshoppers and other Orthoptera

of Arizona. Ariz. Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bui. 93 : 255-273.

56. 1942— Mills, H. B. Montana insect pests. 1941-1942: twenty-

ninth report of the state entomologist. Mont. Agr. Exp; Sta.
Bui. 408. 36 pp.

The European Earwig Found in Provo, Utah

ha August of this year an insect, that was said to be a pest in the flower garden,
was brought to me by Mr. Robert Curtis. He wanted to know what kind of in-
sect it was and how it could be controlled. Upon examination of the specimens
they were found to be Forju'itla auricuhiria Linn., the European Earwig, a new
record for this area.

This species is dark brown in color, 10-15 mm. long, body flattened, winged
and with well developed forcepts, at the posterior end of the body. The females
hibernate by going down into the soil 8 to 10 inches. They come out in the spring,
usually some time in April, depending upon the temperature. The female lays
her pearly-white eggs, in small masses, in the moist soil or under debris. There
is only one generation each year.

This cosmopolitan species has spread throughout the United States and is a
serious pest in some areas. It can be controlled with a poison bait or contact
spray. Dry white bread and lead arsenate, 16 pounds to one. mixed with a little
water is recommended as an effective bait. The reader may get additional infor-
mation concerning this species from the U. S. D. A. Bull. No 566 by D. W. Jones.

The following species of Earwigs are now known to occur in Utah :

Family Spongiphoridae

Spoiiyoz'oslox aljiccdciitatiis (Caud.), .St. George, Utah, a tropical, semi-tropical
species.

Family Labiidae

Labia tiiinor (Linn.), Provo, cosmopolitan in distribution.
Family Forficulidae

Forficiila auricularia Linn., Salt Lake City and Provo, cosmopolitan in dis-
tribution.—V. M. T.

( )ct. 17, 1044

Ih

Dr. William Williams Henderson (1879-1944)

It is witli a distinct imtc of sadness
that \vf record the death, on October 31,
1944. of Dr. W. W. Henderson, head of
the Department of Zoolojjy and Kntomoj-
o«y at Utah State .Agricultural College.
l.dgan. L'tali. Utali academic folk and
scientists liavc lost a wise counselor, a
Miu.L;ht after companion, and a most capa-
ble teacher. I""or forty years he was ex-
tremely popular as a teacher, and students
at the Brigham Young College and Utah
State -Agricultural College sought his
counsel and guidance. He gave freely of
his time and energy in service to his
I'cllow men. His kindly sinrit motivated
for good the lives of all his associates.
May his spirit abide in the hves of those
on whom he spent it.

Dr. Henderson was born May 2.3, 1879
at Clarkston, Cache County. Utah, a son
of James and Mary Watkins Williams
Henderson. He attended the Cache Coun-
ty schools and w-as graduated from the
Brigham Young College at Logan in 1903
with a bachelor's degree. He received
his master's degree from Cornell Univer-
sity two years later.

He tauglit at the Brigham Young
College until 1909 when he was appointed
President of the Weber .Academy at Ogden (now the Weber Junior College)
where he served until 1913 at whicli time he became a member of the Utah State
.Agricultural College faculty. In 1919 Dr. Henderson w^as honored by being named
President of the Brigham Young College where he remained until 1926 when he
rejoined the Utah State College faculty.

In 1925 Dr. Henderson received his doctor of philosophy degree in Ento-
mology from the University of California. In 1928 he played a major role in
the founding of the Logan Latter-day Saint Institute where he served as first
Director and teacher for one year.

Dr. Henderson married Survina Wheeler at Logan on June 26, 1901; to them
were born two sons and seven daughters. Mrs. Henderson, all of their children
and six brothers and sisters survive him.

As an Entomologist, Dr. Henderson was well trained, careful and accurate
in dealing with research problems and always reluctant to publish his findings un-
til they were thoroughly verified through field and laboratory study. Because of
liis conscientiousness and ability as a teacher, much of his time was consumed in
preparation for class work. .As a result his research work and imlilishing was
greatly neglected.

Dr. Henderson

The Great Basin Naturalist
24 VASCO M. TANNER Vol. V. NoS. 1,2.

Following is a list of his scientific iiajicrs. all of which were puhlished within
the state of Utah :

\V. W. HEXDERSOX

1924. A taxonomic and ecological study of the species <>f the subfamily
Oedipodinae (Orthoptera-.\crididae found in Utah. Utah Agricultural
Experiment Station. Technical Bulletin Xo. 191 : 1-150.

1931. Crickets and Grasshoppers in Utah. Utah Agricultural Experiment
Station. Circular 96: 1-3S.

193.3. Grasshopper control in Utah. Utali Agricultural Experiment Station.
Leaflet Xo. 5: 1-2.

^^'. W. HEXDERSOX and ELDOX GARDXER

1935. Grasshopper Egg-Deposition survey of Utah, 1934. Proceedings Utah
.\cademy of Sciences, .A.rts and Letters. \'olume 12 : 229-232.

1935. Grasshopper Egg-Deposition survey of Utah. 1934 (abstract). Pro-
ceedings Utah .\cademv of Sciences. Arts and Letters. \'olume 12:
243.

1935. A Cylological study of .Spermatogenesis in xAnasa Tristis ( De Geer).
Abstract. Proceedings Utah Academv of Sciences, Arts and Letters.
Volume 12: 24L ^

W. W. HEXDERSOX and ALEXAXDER LEVI

1938. Walking-sticks found in Utah. Proceedings Utah Academy of Sciences,
Arts and Letters. \'olume 15: 93-97; PI. L

W. \\'. HEXDERSOX

1939. Sources and Outlines for Organic Evolutit)n. L^tah State Agricultural
College, pp. 1-53.

1941. The Genus Aeoloplides (Orthoptera) in Utah. Proceedings Utah Acad-
emy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. Volume 18 : 83-87 ; PI. L

1942. The Genus Hesperotettix in Utah (Orthoptera. Locustidae, Crytacan-
thacrinae). The Great Basin Xaturalist. \'olume 3, X^o. 1 : 9-21 ;
PI. L

1943. The Genus Phoetaliotes (Orthoptera) in Utah. Proceedings Utah
Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. \'olume 19: 93-97; PI. L

The Genus Schistocerca in Utah. Proceedings Utah Academy of Sci-
ences, Arts and Letters. \'olume 20 : 99-103.

1944. Eour devastating Melanopli found in Utah. (Orthoptera-Crytacan-
thacrinae). The Great Basin Xaturalist. Volume 5: 1-22. — V. M. T.

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

Largest private institution of higher learning in the Intermountain
Region, Brigham Young University is organized into five colleges, three
divisions, and the graduate school. Four quarters of instruction are
provided annually.

Colleges of Applied Science
Arts and Sciences
Commerce
Education
Fine Arts

Divisions of Religion
Research
Extension

Graduate School

Summer School

Departments of Instruction

Accounting and Business

Administration
Agricultural Economics
Agronomy
Animal Husbandry
Art

Bacteriology

Bible and Modern Scripture
Botany
Chemistry
Church History
Church Organization and

Administration
Economics

Educational Administration
Elementary Education
English

Finance and Banking
Geology and Geography
History
Home Economics

Horticulture and Landscape

Architecture
Journalism
Library
Marketing
Mathematics
Mechanic Arts

Modern and Classical Languages
Music

Office Practice
Physical Education
Physics

Political Science
Philosophy of Education
Psychology
Secondary Education
Sociology
Speech
Theology and Religious

Philosophy
Zoology and Entomology

NATIONALLY ACCREDITED

For further information, write

The President

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

Provo, Utah

NEW CCNTURT PRINTIN* CO., PROVO, UTAH

T

Volume V

Numbers 3 & 4

The Great Basin Naturalist

December 29, 1944

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

A Taxonomic Study of the Genus Hypsiglena, Wilmer W.

Tanner 25

Undescribed Species of Western Nearctic Tipulidae (Diptera).

II., Charles P. Alexander 93

Index to Volume V 105

A*^ Zoolofly ''

Published at Provo, Utah, by the

Department of Zoology and Entomology of

Brigham Young University

The Great Basin Naturalist

Vasco M. Tanner, Editor
C. Lynn Hayward, Assistant Editor

A journal published four times a year by the Department of
Zoology and Entomology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

Manuscripts. Only original unpublished manuscripts, pertaining
to the Great Basin and the Western United States in the main, will be
accepted. Manuscripts are subjected to the approval of the editor.

Illustrations. All illustrations should be made with a view to
having them appear within the limits of the printed page. The illus-
trations that form a part of an article should accompany the manu-
script. All half-tones or zinc etchings to appear in this Journal are
to be made under the supervision of the editor, and the cost of the
cuts is to be borne by the contributor.

Reprints. No reprints are furnished free of charge. A price
list for reprints and an order form is sent with the proof.

Subscription. The annual subscription is $2.00, (outside the
United States, $2.50). Single number, 60 cents.

All correspondence dealing with manuscripts, subscriptions, re-
prints and other business matters should be addressed to the Editor,
Great Basin Naturalist, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

Reprint Schedule of The Great Basin Naturalist

Each

Additional

2 pp.

4 pp.

6 pp.

8 pp.

10 pp.

12 pp.

2 pp.

50 copies

$2.00

$3.50

$4.50

$5.50

$6.50

$7.50

.95

100 copies

3.50

4.50

5.50

6.50

7.50

8.50

200 copies

4.75

5.75

6.75

7.75

8.75

9.75

300 copies

5.75

6.75

7.75

8.75

9.75

10.75

Covers: $5.00 for first 100 copies; $2.00 for additional 100 copies.

., .The Great Basin Naturalist

7>^^ of Comai;^^ Published by the

A«'*^ Zootomy 'U\

nrT 99»fl46*) I^KH.MMMKNT OF ZoOI.OC.Y AND ExTOMOI.OCV

UtI i. J BiMCHAM Young UxiVEKsny. Pkovo, Utah

v.,-- / B K A Hj*

Volume V DECEMBER 29, 1944 Nos. 3 & 4

A TA.\( )\( ).\JK- STL'I)\' OV TH1^ GENUS 1 IN' I 'Sl( ilJ-.XA

WII.MI-'.K W. TANNKRi
I'r.jvo Higli ScIkxiI. Provo, Utah

IXTKODUe'lION

In ihc Course ol my studies of Utah specimens of the genus
Hypsiglena it became apparent that 1 could better understand this
genus if a large series of specimens were secured for study. Accord-
ingl_\- 1 set out tcj bring together by loan as many specimens as possible.
As a result over 4(XJ specimens have been assembled and studied. This
C(nil(l not have been accomplished without the aid of many workers
and insiiiutions who ha\e so graciously allowed me to stutly their
specimens. In fortunately many areas are still represented b}- such
a few specimens that important problems of variation and distribution
still exist. The availability of a large series of Hypsiglena has made
it possible to compare most of the species and subspecies of the genus
statisticall}" as well as descriptivelw The statistical data has provided
much needed information used in clarifying the problems in the
Lept(jdeira-IIypsiglena complex. While 1 have seen many Eeptodeira,
I have relied on the re|)orts made by Dunn (19v^6) and Taylor (1938)
for the descriptive and statistical information needed for an under-
standing of this genus.

Erom the data accumulated 1 am convinced that 1 .e])lo(leira and
H}'psiglena represent two distinct generic groups, and thai I'seu-
doleptodeira is a tenal)le genus. In the genus Hypsiglena I accept the
following species and subspecies; torqiiata, affiiiis, duiiklc'i, slcvini
and (icIirorhyHcliKs with the following subspecies: /(/////, Itwaiia. 7t;;;lv-
/(/, iiiichalaliis, c/cscrticola, lorcaliis, klaiihcri, turlniiariisis, and tiiiaocu-
lunts. rhe last live are <K-scribed as new in this report. Ik'cause of

1 Contriutbioii nu, Dciiartiiiciit ol Z(ki1(i>;.v and iMjloinDlony. UriK'liam Nimiif; I'niversity.
Provo, Utah.

25

The Great Basin Naturalist
26 W ILMKR W . TANNKK Vol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

inconclusive data the species ochrorhyiwlius is not united with lorqnata
as is suggested by Dunn (1936) and Bogert and Oliver (1945). ,

The genus Hypsiglena was proposed by Cope on November 15,
1860, at which time he described ochrorhynchus (genotype) from Cape
San Lucas, Lower California, and chlorophaea from Fort Buchanan.
Arizona. A few months previous (February 1860) Gunther described
torquatus, but assigned it to the genus Leptodeira.

Duges (1866) studied a series of specimens which he had collected
from Guana juata, Mexico, and named them Liophis jariii.

Stejneger (1893) described H. texana from specimens collected
between Loredo and Comergo. Texas.

In 1895 Gunther reviewed the genus and assigned to it the follow-
ing species. H. torquatus Gunther (with ochrorhynchus, chlorophaea,
texana and janii as synonyms) H. discolor Gunther (1860). H. ornata
Bocourt (1884). and a new species Hypsiglena latifasciata. In his re-
marks concerning the species H. torquata, Gunther (page 137) had
this to say, "Specimens of this species vary in the coloration of the
neck, the two principal types of variation having been described as
L. torquata and H. ochrorhynchus." His brief description of speci-
mens which Boulenger later described as H. affinis is also included in
his remarks under this species.

The following year (1896). Boulenger reviewed the snakes of the
British Museum, probably the same ones studied by Gunther in 1895,
with the following species listed: H. ochrorhynchus Cope. (H. chlor-
ophaea Cope, H. texana Stejneger, and probably L. janni Duges as
synonmys) H. torquata Gunther, H. discolor Gunther, H. latifasciata
Gunther, H. ornata Bocourt, and a new species, H. affinis Boulenger.

Mocquard (1889) described H. venusta from 5 specimens taken at
Santa Rosalia and one from San Ignacio, Lower California and com-
pared them with H. ochrorhynchus Cope, and //. affinis, all of which
he included in the genus.

Cope (1900) considered all nearctic specimens as belonging to one
species, H. ochrorhynchus Cope. H. chlorophaea Cope is listed as a
synonym, but H. texana Stejneger. and L. janii Duges received no
consideration.

It is significant that no important taxonomic or morphological com-
parisons of these genera were made by these early workers. Gunther
(1895 pp. 137-168) in his arrangement of the genera placed Hypsi-
glena in Colubridae (Aglyphae) and Leptodeira in Colubridae (Gly-
phodontes"). This is done without any discussion and in spite of the
fact that torquata was first described as a Leptodeira. In describing

hrc. 2'*. l'M4 A l\\(t.\(iM K >lt \)\ III II \ rSK.I.KNA 27

tort/utitii |1S()()| |). 17()i (lUiillui' (.alls alUnliDii Id llir sni(M»lli faiij^s
aiul says :

"A character whicli I slioukl liave been plad ti) admit into the generic diag-
nosis of Leptodeira was the presence of a posterior grooved tooth ; hut tliis char-
acter nnist now fall to the gronnd, according to my view, the species which I am
about to describe exiiibiting the jjosterior tooth smooth, although strong. It i.-<
so similar to I.cl^todcira tnmitlata that, at the first glance, one might be tempted
to i)ron(iunce it merely a variety in which the neck, usually of a ligh'. brown
lolonr in /.. inniuhttu. lias becomi' white. The specific dififercncc, however, ma\'
t)e easily- pinxed h\ a closer examination."

cope ( 1*'(K> pai^c 'A^3 ) in referring; lo speciineiis of I Ix'psii^lciia savs
"Tht-y arc ol small si/e, and rcsrinhle C()iisi(leral)lv tin- more rol)Ust
specit'S ot .'^il)on."- yet I oj)f |)lac"c'(] I I \])sig']ena in llic sul)famil\
Cdhilierinae and I A'ptodc-ira in ihc suhfamil}' di])sa(linac-.

\ an i)eiilnn",i.;h (1922) fxaniined ahout 49 specimens, mostly from
.Arizona, Southern and Lower California, listinj^ all as [)elont,nn^' U)
the species //. ochrorhxiichiis Cope.

I )unn (19.>6| reviewed the ,y^enus Leptodeira and united with it
the i^enus llypsit,dena. His stu(l\- was based ui)on 9S7 specimens of
which fewer than 20 heloiii^ed to I lyj)sii;lena. ( )f those sjiecies pre-
viousl}' described as, oi' phiced in the j^enus Mypsi,y]ena, tlie followinj^'
were listed: Lcptmlcira lurijitula Ciinthier, {H. of finis ISoulenj^er as
a synonym); Lcf'todcira torquata ociirorUyncJiits Cope. ( //. cliloru-
pliaea Cope and //. tcxana .Stejneger as SNiKjnyms i ; Lcj^todcira tor-
quata "i'cinista ( Moccjuard I . l.cptodcira discolor (iiintlu'r. Lcptodcixi
latijasciata (iiinther { Lcf'todcira (/itillciil boulcmicr as a synonym).

Dunn brought toj.^ether a greater number of specimens tlian had
ever been availal)le ])efore. ^'et Dunn's re])ori <^ives little cinivincinti;
proof that H\psij,dena should be made a part of the i^emis Leptodeira.
I )unn based tlie uniliiii; of the two i^enera on the following com-
])arisons :

"Leptodeiras without grooved fangs are usually considered a difi'erent genus
( Hypsiglena), and by some authors placed in a difTerent subfamily. 'Hyi)siglena'
consists of the spotted torqitata. closely similar to Lcfyfodrira pacifiria ; the broad
banded Idtifascinta. closely similar to Leptodeira mystacina and to /-. iiii/rflfasciatn.
and s])eeificall\' identical with Leptodeira fUtilleui; the narrow banded diseolor.
rather similar to /.. iinieitlata. Thus I do not believe that the grooveless snakjs
form a natural groui). I'urthermcre thert' is no difi'erence save presence or ab-
sence of grooves between Coiiinsles onia/a IJocourt descrilud from Panama, and
Panamanian specimens of Leptodeira aiiiiulafa. nor between the .Mexican Hypsi-
(/leiv.i latifaseiata and Leptodeira (/uilleni. so that I scarcely consider grot)ving of
specific value in this group. The three so-called Hypsiglena are far more difi'er-
ent from each other than tlicN are from vari(jus Leptodeiras. bi these cases I
consider the grooving of the maxillary tei'th to liave been lo-t."

In rt't(.-rniii; to tonus as bems; 'closelx siiiujai'." or "rallier simi-

- Cope dirt not .iccepl Cuntlif r's use of I,c|>to(l<.-ir;i on the liasis ili.it it w.is ,t n. ii of Sil>on.

Tlie Great Basin Naturalist

28 wiLMER w. TANNER Vol. V, Nos. 3 & 4

lar," it is assumed that he is referring:; \o color patterns. In these
genera color patterns overlap each other considerably and when used
as key characters will lead to certain confusion, unless other morpho-
logical differences are used as the main basis for the separation. The
only color pattern worthy of consideration is the lateral spotting. In
Leptodeira most species have no lateral spots, a few bressoni, smitlii,
splendida, and cppipii'iata have one row of spots alternating with the
blotches. Giinther. Cope. Dunn and other workers have called atten-
tion to the close similiarities that exists in the color patterns. It is
therefore necessary to provide other specific differences if Hypsiglena
is to remain as a tenable genus. In Hypsiglena the smooth condition
of the fangs is an important trait, in over 400 Hypsiglena studied,
none had grooved teeth, while all Leptodeira studied produced grooves.
When the anterior maxillary teeth are considered Hypsiglena produces
but 8 (average), rarely nine or ten; Leptodeira has ten (10) or more.
In Hypsiglena the rostral scute not only protrudes, producing an elon-
gate snout which extends noticeably beyond the mouth, but also wedges
in between the internasals and is clearly visible from above ; usually
measuring from 1-2 mm. in length. Leptodeira have a blunt snout,
the rostral does not protrude noticeably beyond the mouth and when
seen from above appears as a narrow stripe across the end of the
snout; seldom does it exceed one mm. in length. In Hypsiglena the
diameter of the eye minus the distance from the orbit to the nasal
scute is less than one mm. ; in Leptodeira it is one or more mm. Each
dorsal scale has one apical pit in Hypsiglena. there are two pits in
Leptodeira. The tail is less than 20% of the total length in Hypsiglena.
more than 20% (seldom less) in Leptodeira.

Aside from color pattern, these genera are alike in having the same
number of dorsal rows (19-21-23) and an overlapping of the ventral
and caudal scales.

The failure of earlier workers to recognize that H. latifaciata
Giinther,'' H. discolor Giinther and H. ornata Bocourt belonged to an
entirely different genus and did not represent intermediate species,
produced the continual shifting of generic terms.

Taylor (1938) in his notes on the genus Leptodeira not only re-
gards Hypsiglena and Leptodeira as forming two natural groups but
proposed a new genus Pseudoleptodeira. To this genus he assigned
two species : Hypsiglena latifasciata Giinther and Hypsiglena discolor
Giinther.

3 Taylor (1938) has also shown that L. guilleni is a synonym of P. latifaciata.

Dvi. 2^. \^44 A TAXfiNoMrc: STCDN' OF inrsici.KNA 29

'l';i\ lor's reasons for ri'tainiiii; 1 1 \ l>siL;K na arc hcsl slainl in his
own words (1938 p. 318) :"»

"There are present a smaller series of teeth in the jaws; the fangs lack
grooves; the elongation of the snout anterior to the mouth is much greater than
obtains in typical Lcptodcira ; the tail is proportionally shorter, and the scales
differ in having only a single apical pit instead of paired i)its. Moreover, this
genus has a distribution north of the Isthmus of Panama, nearly coextensive with
Lepfodeira. T believe this genus is a natural group worthy of generic recoguitinn."

In Taylor's paper, "Mexican Snakes of the genera Triniorjiliodon
and Tlypsig^lena." published (1938), tlie same time as his "Notes on
the jjenus Leptodeira." llie following,'- species are hsted for Hypsiglena.
//. torquata torquota (iiinther, //. affitiis Boulenj^er. Hypsiglcna
flchrorhyncJius Cope, (//. rliloropliaca Coi)e, Lcplodciro lorquata vc-
nusta Dunn, and Hyps'uilcua tcxaua Stejenjjjer are synon}-ms) and a
new form. Ilypsiiilcna larqiKild dunkJci Taylor is described.

Klauber 1938 reviewed the subspecies of the s])otted Xi^lit Snake
with special reference to vcimstu, validated by Dunn (1936) conclud-
ing, "that as far as cLassiftcation based on ventral scale counts is con-
cerned the subs])ecies 7-cnusia is not a tenal)le form."

Smith (1943) listed the following' Mexican species for the United
States National Museum. //. o. ochrorhynchus Cope, //. o. jaiiii
(Duges) and //. torqitala (Ciinther).

Smith and Taylor (1945) hst in their checklist and key to the
snakes of Mexico, the followint^- forms: //, n. ni-lirorhyiicha Cope,
(H. venusfa Moccpiard as a synonym), //. o. jaiiii ( Dugt's) , II. af finis
Boulenger, //. <hiiiklci Tayh)r, //. tDrqiiata f(iiinther) and H. slcvini
Tanner.

Bogert and Oliver (1945) in their stud}' of the reptiles of Sonora
list Oi'hrorJiy)iclius as a subs|)ecies of torquata} Dunkici and affinis
received no consideration, the new form H. michalatus Tanner is listed
as a subspecies of torquala, and H. slcvini Tanner is listed as a syno-
nym of venusta, ^\ hich they a])])arently accept as a synonym of ochror-
liynchns.

My study of the genus dates from 1937, at which time six speci-
mens (all females) from Washington County, Utah, were studied. So
noticeable w^ere the increased number of ventrals (193-199) that a
comparison was made with specimens collected at C:\pc San l.ucus.
Lower California, tlu- ty])e localit\- of (^. ochrorliyiiclnis. This s1u(l\-
proved to be ver_\- inconclusi\e, but did show the great need for many
more specimens from the entire rang(.'. .Since then many spcimens

4 Also pages 367-8.

5 For a further discussion see tJie remark.s under }\. torqurita.

The Great Basin Xaturalist
30 W rLMKK W. TANNF.K Vol. \'. XoS. 3 &: 4

have \k\-\] collected, some studied at other nuiseums and a lar,L;e nuniher
received on loan for studw It is now ])ossil)le to repfjrt on 410 speci-
mens which the author considers as lielonginj^ to the genus Hypsiglena.

The evidence available does not justify considering Hypsiglena as
a s}non\m of Leptodeira, as proposed l)y Dunn. The comparisons
and studies which have been made, support the same conclusions
reached b}" Dr. Taylor : namelw that each genus represents a natural
group of snakes which can be readily distinguished by the characters
already listed.

The genus Fseudoleptodeira is more elosel\ related to the genus
Leptodeira than it is to Hypsiglena. Its validity rests ])rincipally on
the smooth fangs, for in other characters it possesses the same char-
acters as or similar to Leptodeira. Fseudoleptodeira are related to
Hypsiglena only in that both have smooth fangs. As it ncnv stands we
have Leptodeira and Hypsiglena with a closel\ related intermediate
genus which has certain characters common to both genera, but with
enough variation to provide for complete separation. The new genus
based (jn the characters found in P. latifaciata has clarified the status
((f these genera.

The present jjajjcr contends tliat Lei)lo(leira. H\ [)sigler,a, and l^seu-
doleptodeira. are three distinci natural gri)U])S of back fanged snakes
that ma\- be distinguished as follows:

KEY TO THE GENERA

A. Two apical pits present on each of the dorsal scales; rostral
scale scarcely seen from above, rarel\ measuring more than 1
mm. in length, snout broadly rounded or blunt, not noticeably
protruding beyond the mental scute. Diameter of eye minus
the distance from the oi'bit to the nasal scute one or more mm.
Tail ZO/'r or more of total length.^

R. Fangs smooth, loreal higher than long, at least in latifaciata ;
body with dark bands which involves the edges of the ven-
trals Fseudoleptodeira

V^Fk Fangs deeply grooved ; loreal longer than high, body pattern
commonly in spots or if with bands then not involving the ven-
trals Lfptodeira

AA. One apical pit present on each of the dorsal scales. Rostral
scale very noticeable from above, measuring more than .9 mm.* :
snout rounded or pointed rarely blunt, noticeably protruding

6 Because of the spotted ami banded patterns present in these genera no attempt is made
to separate on the basis of color pattern. The coloration is of specific value in each
genera but is not useful in separating the genera.

* Usable mainly in specimens 300 mm. or more in length.

I

hrr. 2'', l'H4 A TAXONOMH STIDV nV UN' l'Sr< il.KN A M

beyond llif iin-iUal sculr. rosiniDr sii|HTi(M" maxillary leclli
( faiij^s ) siiiiMiili. k>s ihan I't ic'clh anterior to ilu- hack fangs.
'I'ail K's.s than 2()'r ol' to!al k'n<^tli ; cyi' smalk'i', its diaincter
k'ss llir distance from llic orhit to the nasal scute less than
one mm Hyi'.^iglena

THl-: (;i-:XL'S I'.SEUDULKP'1X)I)1:1R.\ 'rayh.r. IM. Ih l-ig. 7
I'uil. of the I'niv. of Kan.. \'ol. 39 Xo. 11 1938 p. 343.
( iK.xoTN ri; : 1 1 vi'.su;lkna latikasciata ( liinther

Scales in 19-21 {2.^) rows: head rather hroad, the siioul not ])ro-
irudiny noticeably bex'ond moutli ; nasal divided : loreal present ; i)Uj)il
vertical; anal di\ided ; scales smooth with i)aired apical pits; two pairs
of chin shiekl^ ; tail relatively lon^, the subcaudals in two rows, ex-
ceedini^' 60; maxillar\- teeth about 13-13. increasiiii^" in lenjj;^th backward
and followed after a short distance l)\' a lartje fani; lacking- trace of
groove.

Rkmakks: The genus I'seudoleplodeira includes a gi'ouj) of snakes
which are distinguished by smcjolh fangs jjreceded by 10 (jr more pre-
maxillary teeth and by the paired apical pits in each dorsal scale.
-Species referred to this genus are represented by only a few specimens
in each case. The species P. latifasciata ( Giinther ) is represented in
collections by six s]:)ecimens with ihe following characteristics:

Scale

\e:i-

Cau-

White

Tail to total

Sex

rows

trals

dals

hands

Total

Tail

length

type latifasciata

F

21

1 8C)

80

10

350

78

22.35

ty[je guilleni

2?>

189

71

11

USXM 46550

F

23

181

66

12

445

89

20.00

Taylor 5189

I'

23

191

69

11

613

124

20.23

Taylor 4658

A I

21

188

80

11

525

127

24.19

Taylor 5509

M

21

182

7S

13

484

120

24.79

Taylor has referred //. discolor ( iiinther to this genus. The scutil-
lation for discolor is. 19 scale rows. 7 or 8 upper labials, \enlrals 173-
178. subcaudals 85-89. The tail is 27. 68^^ of the total length in one
specimen.

From the description of //. oriiala Uocourt given by l'>oulenger. it
seems that this species should also be tentativeh' referred to this genus.
The scutillation for ornofa is as follows: scaling as in H. forquata
iprol)ably 21-19-17), 8 ui)i)er labials, ventrals 185-189, subcaudals 84-
93. Total length (one specimen i 260 mm. tail ^7. The tail length is
33.46 per cent of the total length. In both species the characteristics

The Great Basin Naturalist
32 VVILMER W. TANNER Vol. V, Nos. 3 & 4

are slrikinj^ly similar lo J', hilifasciala Giinther. The high number of
caudals and the long tail excludes these forms from the genus Hypsi-
glena. The presence of smooth fangs excludes them from the genus
Leptodeira. Until a study of greater numbers of specimens is made
to determine the number of apical pits and other pertinent morpho-
logical factors these two species at least H. ornata, should be consid-
ered only tentatively as belonging to the genus Pseudoleptodeira.

THE GENUS LEPTODEIRA Fitzinger
Fitzinger, Syst, Kept., 1843, \). 27
Type : .Vnnulata

An elongate grooved tooth on the posterior part of the maxillaiy
bone ; other teeth subequal. Head plates normal ; one loreal. Preanal
and subcaudal scuta doubles; scales smooth, with two apical pits, pupil
vertical. Hemipenis undivided with bifurcate sulcus separmaticus, and
numerous spines below and calyces above. The latter presents a free
margin to the superior sinous region, that is, the organ is capitate.

A study of specimens representing five species of Leptodeira shows
several other characters which should be added to Cope's description
of the genus listed above; they are: snout broad, blunt and not elon-
gated far anterior to the mouth, rostral small, scarcely seen from above,
nasal plate short, longer than the distance from the nasal scale to the
orbit, 10 or more small maxillary teeth followed after an interspace by
one or two large grooved fangs. The eyes are large (larger than in
typical Hypsiglena) ; the diameter of the orbit equal to or greater than
the distance to the nostril. Tail long usually more than 20% of the
total length, dorsal scales smooth except for a few rows above the
vent which are keeled in some species, and with two apical pits. The
cephalic plates are normal, there is one loreal usually longer than high,
2 or 3 preoculars, 2 postoculars, temporals normally 1-2-3, upper la-
bials 8 (9) lower labials 10 (11) mental small triangle shape and not
dividing the anterior pair of infralabials ; two pair of equal or sub-
equal geneals; ventrals normal, ranging from 150 to well over 200
scutes; 60 or more subcaudals.

THE GENUS HYPSIGLENA Cope

Leptodeira (part). Gi^inther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3), v. 1860,
p. 170.

Hypsiglena Cope, Proc. Acad. Mat. Sci. Philadelphia, June, 1860,

|)l'C.29. 1944 A TA.KONOMIC STUDY OK 1 1 S' I'SICLKN A ^.^

l)age 246.

( ( Icncric description: type oclirorhynchus i .

I'sciulodipsas rctors, Moiialsl). Akad. Wiss. I'.ciiiii, IcSoO, p. 521.

Coniasles Jan, I'K'iico Sist. ( )ric.. 1K(),\ |). 102.

DESCRIPTION OF THE GENUS
Head

SiZK AND pRoPORTioN.s : The head is normally llatlened across the
j)arietals and between the eyes, but rounded anteriorly ; snout moder-
ately pointed, except in slevini which is blunt. In most adult specimens
the head is noticeably wider than the neck.

Sc'UTELLATiON : The cephalic plates are normal, consisting of paired
parietals, prefrontals, internasals, and supraoculars, and with a single
frontal. The rostral protrudes, except in slevini; nostril between two
nasal scales; loreal single except for lorcalns and unaocularis. There
are two preoculars, except in af finis, which has but one ; the eye is
small to moderate, large in slevini, and eliptical. There are two post-
oculars, followed by a large temporal which is normally followed by two
(rarely by three) smaller scales. The supralabials are 7 or 8 rarely
9, infralabials normally 10, except for dunklei where there are 11,
rarely 9. Mental wedging part way between the first pair of labials,
completely dividing them in some specimens of nuchnlatus and tor-
qiiatus, which meet on the midventral line. There are two pair of
equal or subet|ual genials.

Color Pattern : The head and nape is variously colored, tor-
quata, dujiklei, and affinis all have light cream colored bands across
the nape followed by a large dark nuchal blotch. Nuchalatus and
janii have no light band but a large dark nuchal l)lotch across the nape;
other forms are variously spotted across the nape. The dark nuchal
blotch, or the lateral spots, extend anterior to the eye, divided posterior
to the labials in most klauhcri. Under parts normally immaculate ex-
cept foi- tlu' genials and gulars which are llcckecl with small sjKjts.

Dentition : There arc 7-10, sul)C(|ual superior maxillary teeth,
followed after a sj^ace b}- one or two smooth fang-like teeth. The
normal cnniplcment of anterior maxillary teeth is 8; in specimens in
which fewer than 8 teeth are found, there are usually spaces between
some of the teeth and an empty socket or broken tooth on the jaw bone.

PjOdy and Tail
Proportions: The bodv is CNclindrical, and ranging in length

Tin- Circat Basin Naturalist
34 WIl.MKK W . TAXXK.k Vol. V. XoS. 3 8i A

fn;iii 131 lo (AZ mill. The tail is short, making- from 12 to 20 per cent
of the total lens.;th. in adult males the tail makes up a greater per cent
of the total leni^th and is more plump behind the anus: in females it
tapers noticeably and is proportionately shorter.

ScuTELLATioN : Rocly scales sn^.ooth, except those above the vent,
which are. in most males and a few females, keeled or with small knobs.
There are from 19 to 2.^ long-itudinal rows of dorsal scales near the
middle of the body, with l-.'^ reductions before the vent. The reduc-
tions occur l)y combining two lateral rows of dorsal scales, usually
the 3-4. 4-5 or the 5-6 lateral rows. This may be expressed by the
followins^ dia,i,n'am :

120 135 152 \'entrals

4 4 3 Lateral Rows

21 - 19 - 17 - 15 I). Scale Rows

5 5 4

121 136 155

The first row of d(M"sal scales is slis^htlx' lari^er than the other dorsal
rows. There is a single apical pit on each of the dorsals. On the
abdomen is a single row of transverse ventral plates, which vary in
number from 154-204. Immediately posterior to the ventrals is an
obliquely divided anal plate. The caudals are in two rows and range
from 36-68 pair, with an occasional pair of scales united. There is
considerable variation in the number of ventrals and caudals between
male and female specimens ; the females have high ventral and low
caudal counts while the males have lower ventral and higher caudal
counts.

Color Pattern : The color pattern above is one of spots sepa-
rated by irregular bands of light colored scales : the spots are arranged
in a median series with some of the spots of nearly every specimen
suggesting a division into two rows. This condition does occur in
0. veniista. The spots may be large or small, dark or light colored.
Lateral to the large spots are two or three series of smaller spots alter-
nating with the larger dorsal spots and each other. Ventrals and
caudals may or may not be flecked with small spots.

Habits and Habitat: The snakes belonging to this genus are
very secretive, and move mainh' at night. They are apparently adapted
to rocky foot hill regions and while they have been called ''night
snakes" they might well be called "rock snakes." Records indicate
that all lay eggs, presumably in late spring or early summer, although
this is not certain for any species. The food consists, at least in part.

I )ri.-. 2'', 1044 A 'i-.WdNdM K ^-l^l)^ m ii n i'>1(,i.i-:na 35

iif small li/ards, ( L'la. Sccloparus i aiiii»liiliia (IWilOi aii<l insects,
niainh InTtUs. I iypsif^iena are j^^Millc to liandK' : 1 know of no instance
in which onr lias attempted to hitc' man. Tluy arc. however, quite
inlolcranl. al linus. towards small li/ards. lluii' ])\\c is not imnie-
diatch clTcctivr as in sonic f(»rms hut may after a short time prove
fatal. iH'cdiui,'' has Iieen ol)serve(l hut once, at which time a Ufa stans-
hiiraiia slaiishitraiia r>. & G. was eaten. It was swallowed head first
and rccpiircd ahoul ten minutes. Considerahlc data nuist he J,^athered
before we will understand the habits of these snakes.

Rangk : The jjenus Hypsiijlena is distributed throuiiliout ^lexico
and parts of Central America. The limits of its southern raui^e is not
as yet well dehned. In the United States it has been found in the fol-
lowing- states: Texas. Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico,
Arizona. Ctah. Idaho. W^ashington, Oregon. Nevada, California and
in Lower Califc^rnia w itli its adjoining- islands. A single specimen has
also been collected on Clariii Island 400 miles f)ff the tip of Lower
California. ,

Variation : The variation in the number of ventrals is consider-
able in most species. ovcrlap]>ing into relaterl grf)U])S to such a degree
that classification based on \entral \ariation would lead to confusion.
TIus is particularh- true of oclirnrliyiicJius and its sub-species. Ven-
tral variations should not, however. l)e entirely discorded from classi-
fication keys, but should l)e used in connection with other character-
istics in determining the specific status of an}" specimen.

Synonymy Chart i-or thk Gt-:NKKA TTypstcxena, LEPTODEtRA

AND PsEt 'DOLE I'TODETR A

Xanics lit .

.\iith(irs

Generic 'I'erms U.scd

h.\ Authors

Leptodeira

1 fypsiglena

Pseudoleptodeira

I -innaeus

( 1758)

Coluber

Coluber

Coluber

I'itzinger

(1828)

Sil)on

Sibon

Sil)f)n

Fit/.inger

( 1843)

Leptodeira

Leptodeira

Leptodeira

Ciiinther

(I860)

Leptodeira

Leptodeira

Leptodeira

Cope

0860)

Leptodeira

Hypsiglena

Hypsiglena

< iiinther

0894)

Leptodeira

Hypsiglena

TTypsiglena

l')oulenger

0896)

Leptodeira

TTypsiglena

TTypsiglena

Cope

O900)

Sibon

I lypsiglena

Tfyjxsiglena

Dunn

(1936)

Leptodeira

Le])tofleira

Leptodeira

Taylor

(19.38)

Leptodeira

T fyjisiglena

Pseudoleptodeira

TTie Great Basin Naturalist
36 WILMER W. TANNKR Vol. V, NoS. 3 8z 4

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Tt is a pleasure for the writer to express his grateful acknowledg-
ments to the institutions and individuals who have cooperated with
him in this study. 1 am especially indebted t(j Dr. \"asco M. Tanner,
Professor of Zoology at Brigham Young University, for assistance in
obtaining specimens and literature and for his suggestions and aid in
preparing this manuscript. I am grateful to Dr. D. Elden Beck and
Dr. C. Lynn Hayward for encouragement given to me during the
years in which this report has l)een in progress. I also wish to thank
Drs. George S. Myers and Lawrence M. Klauber for their cooperation
during this study. Dr. Alyers made available the results of a study of
specimens of Hypsiglena begun l)y Jack Hawkins and M. Regneri at
Stanford L^niversity. 1 wish to thank Dr. ]\Iyers and Mr. T. Paul
Maslin for their kindntss in sending to me the notes and preliminary
results of the Hawkins and Regneri study. These two workers had
made scalt counts of a number of specimens, but no written conclu-
sions were reached. Among others to whom the writer wishes to ex-
tend his thanks and express his gratitude for loan of specimens, for
notes, or for valuable suggestions are the following: Dr. C. M. Bogert.
Dr. Arthur X. Bragg. Dr. Doris M. Cochran. Helen T. Gaige, Dr.
Howard K. Gloyd. Dr. Arnold Grobman, George H. Hanley. Dr. Nor-
man E. Hartwig, Dr. Ross Hardy, Dr. Carl L. Hubbs, Arthur Lover-
idge, Stanley Mulaik, Dr. H. Graham Netting. Thomas Rodgers, Joseph
R. Slevin, Dr. Karl P. Schmidt, Dr. Hobert M. Smith, Dr. Arthur
Svihla. Dr. Edward H. Taylor, Harold Tropido, Dr. Alexander Wet-
more. Dr. Charles D. Vorhees. Dr. A. M. Woodbury, and Dr. A. H.
Wright. I extend my thanks to the officials of the Idaho State Mu-
seum, Grand Canyon and Zion Canyon National Parks.

Many of the collections loaned to me were retained far beyond the
expiration of the loan period, and T wish to sincerely thank those in-
dividuals who made it possible to retain, for comparison, these many
specimens. The drawings were prepared by two of my students, Kent
Christensen and Dan Roberts ; for their efifort and many hours of time
spent on this subject T am most grateful.

MUSEUM AND COLLECTOR ABBREVLATIONS

The following is a list of the abbreviations of museums and collec-
tions referred to in this study : American Museum National History,
A. M. ; Brigham Young University, B. Y. U. ; California Academy of
Science, C. A. .S. ; Chicago Acadamy of .Science. Ch. A. S. ; Carnegie

T)oc. 20, l')44 A TAxoxoMir sri'i>\' oi' mi'sici.KXA 2>7

Musruni. C". M . : Cdiiull I niwrsiiy. CUnu'll : COIk-.i,^' of ru.i;ci Souii'l,
C". r. S.: Dixir Cnlk-r. I). C". ; I'.duard II. Tayl.ir, I'.. II. T. ; FicMs
Aluscuni oi Xalioiial lli.stdiy, I*'. .M . : Idaho Stale Alu>ruin, I. S. M.;
Laurence \\. Klaultrr, L. M. K.; Miisnmi of COniparatixi- Zofjlogy.
M. C. Z. : Michijjj^an Musriim of Zoology, \\. \\. '/..: ko.^s Ilardv Cr»l-
lection. R. \\.\ Roclustci- IniviTsit}-. R. I .; Slanky Muliak, S. AL ;
Stanford I iii\ cMsity. S. I'.; L'niversity of Arizona. L'. A.: I'niversit)'
of C'alifornia. I'. C. ; L'nivci-sin of ( )klalionia, I'. <). ; I'niu-d States
National Museum, I . S. X . M . : l"ni\xrsit\ of I'tah. I'. I'.; I'niversitv
of \\'ashinj,'-ton. V. \\.\ Zion Canxon Xational I'ark, Z. X. I'.

THK DISPOSITION OF THF TYPES OF THl-.'CFXUS IIYPSIGLEXA

( iiintlu-r nanu'd llu- species loyiiitatus troni two s])eciniens colk'Cted
in Xicara.i^ua. wiili one cominjL; from the Island of Las^una. From the
literature it now apjjears that the specimen taken on the Island of I,a-
.y^una is in the I'.ritish .Museum, and the other is in the 1 )erb}' Museum.
Liverpool. Enj^land,

The t\'pes for a j finis are in the llrilisli Museum, London.

The tvpe for ditukli'i is in the nniseum of Cdmparative Zooloi^y.
C'amhridue. Mass.. Xo. 42594.

The type for slt'7'lni is at ihv C\'difornia Academx' of .Science. No.
53631.

The types of o. ochrorhxiichns are ](»ca,te(l in lln-ee nuiseums. Dr.
Doris M. Cochran re})orts that the follo\vinj.i" specimens are in the
X\'itional Museum .Xo. 5283 (four s])eciniens') listed as cotypes ; all in
fairly yood condition. A sin<^le specimen No. 9216. considered by Dr.
Siejnej^er as a possible paratype. and three specimens Nos. 69538-40
art' also listed as paratypes. I>unn 1936 and Smith and Taylor 1945
list only one specimen X'o. 4676 for llie National .Museum. Tliev list
two specimens Nos. 3748-9 fi.r tJu' .\ca(lem\- of Natural Science at
I'hiladel])hia. Smith and Ta\lor list four coty])es No. 9503 for Mu-
seum ot Comparative Zoolo^w If wn- can belie\e tlu-se fiijures. there
are in existence twelxt- type specimens.

The k>cation of tlie t\'])e of o. jaiiii is unknown. I)r. Duges sent, in
a shi|)meni of reptiles from .Mexico. Iwn specimen.s of junii Nos. 9889
and Ik^^W to ilu' U. S. .Xational .Museum. Whether these could rep-
resent l\pe specimens is also unknown. 'l"he\- were, however, collected
Irom the t\pe localitx' I)\ the authoi' of the subsi)ecies.

Six types of o. vcnitsta .are in tin- Paris Museum.

The type of o. frxdiia is in the I '. .S. Nation.al .Museum, No. 1782.

The Great Basin Naturalisr
.^8 WILMKK \V. TANNER \'()1. V, Nos. 3 & 4

The type of o. nnclialatus is at the Brigham Young University, No.
3008. There are paratypes at Cahfornia Academy of Science, No.
30876: University of CaUfornia, Nos. 19328-30, 19207, 2476, 27487,
28202, 20505, 24118, 20486; Stanford University, No. 8070; and in
the collection of L. M. K. Nos. 20233, 20293, and 22501.

The type No. 2836 of o. dcscrticola is at the R. Y. U. The para-
types have been distributed as follows : No. 92327 is at the M. M. Z. ;
B. Y. U. No. 2198 is at the U. S. National Museum ; B. Y. U. No.
2196 is at the University of Utah ; ten other paratypes Nos. 640, 2126-
8, 2026, 2709, 7937-8, 8011, and 2197 are at the B.V. U. ; and B. Y. U.
No. 8014 is retained in the author's collection.

The type No. 2829 and one paratype No. 2192 of o. lorealus is ai:
the B. Y. U. ; four paratypes are in the Ross Hardy Collection at Dixie
College, St. George, Ut., and one No. 68595 is in the Mich. Mus. of
Zoology.

The type of o. klauheri is in the L. M. K. collection. No. 20228.
There are two paratypes Stanford U. No. 6678 and Calif. Acad. Sci.
No. 13602.

The type of o. tortugaensis is in the Calif. Acad. Sci. No. 51460.
There is one paratype in the L. M. K. collection No. 4070.

The single type of o. iiiiaocularis is at the American Mus. Nat. Hist.
No. 62756.

KEY TO THE SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES OF HYPSIGLENA

A. Dorsal scales in 19-19-17-15 rows (at least 19 rows at the 100th ventral.
supralabials 7-7.

B. Ventral cotint low 162-168; preocnlars 1-1; m]^c with a li,a:ht nuchal hand.
H. (if finis Roiilenger

RB. Ventral count high 179-201, preoculars 2-2, nape without a light nuchal band
but with a dark nuchal blotch H. o. uiirhalahis W. Tanner

AA. Dorsal scales in 21 or more rows at the middle of the body ; supralabials
usually 8-8, rarely less.

B. Dorsal scales in 23 rows at or near the middle of the body ; diameter of the
orbit greater than the distance from the orbit to the nostril ; parietals in
contact with the lower postoculars H. slevini W. Tanner

BB. Dorsal scales in 21 rows at the middle of the body ; diameter of the orbit
equal to or less than the distance from the orbit to the nostril ; parietals not
in contact with the lower postoculars.

C. Nape with a light nuchal band. 4-5 scales across not or rarely intt-rrupted
medially or laterally, and followed by a large nuchal blotch.

D. Rostral large pushing far between the prefrontals, the part visible above

Dec. 29, l'>44 A TAXONOMIC STUDY OF HYPSIGLENA 39

(.■(|ual ti) throe- lOurtlis the distance between the rostral aiul frontal; 8 supra-
l,ihial>. 11 iiit'ralahials ; snhcaudals 57 (in onv male) //. diiuklcl Taylor

IJI). Ivostral ni)t pushins; far jjctwccn the prefrontals, part visil)ie above equal
to or less than onc-iialf the distance from tiie rostral to the frontal; 7 or 8
supralabials ; subcaudals 38-47 //. torquutus Giinther

CC. Nape without a ligiit nuchal hand ; nape variously blotched, that is spotted
or with a single blotch covering tlie nape.

D. Loreals 2-2.

E. Postoculars 1-1 ; scales between the dorsal spots pigmented tiie same as

those scales lateral to the dorsal spots. — (Plate III, Fig. 4 & 5)

II. 0. unaociilanis W. Tanner subsp. nov.

EE. Postoculars 2-2 ; scales between the dorsal spots distinctly lighter in color

than those scales lateral to the spots. — (Plate II, Fig. 1)

H. o. loreahts W. Tanner subsp. nov.

1)1). Loreals 1-1. rarei\- more, but wiien present small.

E. The dorsal rows of spots separated by a lighter median stripe varying from
a scale or less in width ; dorsal spots small involving 4-5 scales and occupy-
ing a space of 2 or 3 scales. The first lateral row of spots separated from
the dorsal row by at least one row of scales ; ventrals 174-190. — (Plate III,
Fig. 7) H. 0. vcnusta Mocquard

EE. The two dorsal rows of spots rarely separated, often a few are alternat-
ing ; spots larger, involving 7 or more scales and occupying a space of 4
or more scales.

F. Nape with three distinct spots, two lateral and one medial, the medial spot
is occasionally divided near the middle, but is always in contact with the
parietals, or the scale inmiediately posterior to the parietals.

G. Medial nape spot greatly enlarged posteriorly, the anterior part narrow, 1-3
scales wide, and extending back from the parietal 4-7 scales, where it im-
mediately enlarges to cover nearly all of the nape ; lateral nape spots com-

,plete and extending anteriorly at least to the eye ; ventral-caudal totals

229-261 ; rarely more than 16 dorsal rows at the vent

H. o. dcserticola W. Tanner subsp. nov.

CiG. Medial nape spot uniform, or nearly so, for its entire distance (varying only
a scale or so in width).

H. Ventral-caudal total 245 or more, caudals high, 57-59 in two females, medial
nape spot 12 scale long or more...//, o. torliu/antsis W. Tanner subsp. nov.

nil. \'entral-caudal total rarely more than 240. C'audals in female 54 or less,
in males up to 60.

I. Dorsal spots extending from the 7lh to the 15th scale row and each spot
when complete involving 22 or more scales. EUich spot is separated by a
distance equal to one scale or less, usually about K' scale. The first row
of lateral spots large involving 6 or more scales and extending from the
4th to the 7th or 8th row. Top of head usually rounded, 6th supralabials
about half pigmented. Dorsal scales rarely less than 17 rows at the vent.
Ventrals 154-177. Lateral nape spots complete H. o. tcxami Stejneper

The Great Basin Naturalist
40 VVILMER W . TANNER Vol. V, Nos. 3 & 4

11. Dorsal sputs smaller, usually extending ironi the 8th to the 14th rows. Spots
involving fewer than 22 scales, lateral spots smaller, distance between the
dorsal and lateral spots one scale row or more. Top of head usually flat-
tened, 6th supralabial less than half pigmented, ventrals 161-188

H. 0. ochrorhynchus Cope

FF. Nape with three distinct spots, the medial spot two or more scales posterior
to the parietals, lateral nape spots divided at the angle of the mouth or

posterior to it ; dorsal scales in 17 or 15 rows at the vent

//. 0. klanbcri Tanner subsp. nov.

FFF. Nape without three distinct spots but with two spots or a nuchal blotch
vv'hich extends entirely across the neck region.

G. Nape with a narrow band 1-6 scales across or with only two nape spots ;
dorsal spots, medium to small, usually involving less than 21 scales, and one

or more scales apart; dorsal scales at the vent 17 or 15 rows

//. 0. ochrorhynchus cope

GG. Nape with a distinct, long nuchal band, 7-10 scale lengths. Spots large in-
volving 21 or more scales and less than one scale apart; 17 scale rows at
the vent. Ventrals 162-173, caudals 39-55 H. o. jaiiii Duges

HYPSIGLENA TORQUATA (Gimther) PI. II, Fig. 9; PI. Ill, Fig. I

Leptodeira torguata Giinther, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3), V. Feb. 1860, p. 170,
pi. 0, fig. A (type description: type locality, Laguna I., Nicaragua) ; trooschal.
in Muller. Reisen in den Vereinigten Staaten, Canada and Mexico, III, 1865, p. 612.

Leptodeira t. torquata Dunn, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 22, No. 12, 1936, pp. 689-
698. Bogart and Oliver, Amer Mus. Nat. Hist. Vol. 83 Art. 6. 1945, pp. 378-81.

Pscudodipas fallax Peters, Monatsb, Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1860, p. 520.

Comastcs qumcitnciatns Jan, Elenco Sist. Ofid., 1863, p. 102, and Icon. Gen.
Ofid., 38, 1871, pi. 1, fig. 1. ("Maxatlan," "Costa Rica," "Caracas," "Mexico") ;
Tooschel, in Muller, Reisen in Den Vereinigten Staaten, Canada and Mexico, III,
865, p. 612.

Hypsiglcua torquata Cope, Bull. U.S.N.M., No. 32, 1887, p. 78; Giinther,
Biologia Centrali-Americana, Rept. Batr., Oct., 1895, p. 137 (part.) ; Boulenger,
Cat. Snakes British Mus., II, 1894, p. 210, 359 (Ventans, Durango; Presidio, near
Maxatlan, Sin. ; Nicaragua) ; Gadow, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, June 6, 1905, pp.
224, 241 ; Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans I'Amerique Centrale,
Reptiles, livr. 16, 1908, pp. 867, 868 (part) figs. 3 ( ?) ; Werner, Zool. Zahrb., 47.
1929. pp. 124, 125 ; Smith, Proceedings of the Nat. Mus., Vol. 93, No. 3169, 1943,
p. 433 ; Smith and Taylor, Proc. of the U. S. Nat. Mus., Bull. 187, p. 74.

Hypsiglcua torquata torquata Taylor, Bull, of the Univ. of Kansas, Vol. 25,
June 1, 1939, pp. 371-73; Some Mexican Serpents, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.. Vol.
26 p. 467-469.

General Description
The follov^ing description is based on 10 specimens which I have
examined and upon the description of the type specimen.

Head
Size and Proportion : The head is moderately long, broad and
somewhat truncate in shape. The parietal and frontal regions are flat,

Dec. 29, I'm

A T.V.KONOMIC .STl.DV Ml 1 1 Vl'SIGLKN A

41

"^

c

11

'7)

x

r^ C/)

■/.

o-o

? "5

p TD

S ,^ "3

1) -_

'y<^

C 03

w 5

C rt

-^ o ^

OJ

C CO

O

> c

J .

«1 1

Longe

Speci

men

(M O

o

CO

ON <N

t->.

CO

-1- o

'N

,— V .'^

^ V ^ N

vq ^>:

tN. ^H

' o i2

■^ UO

CO t^'

o

T)

CO

- — - —

CV)

d o-

00 o

-f

^

lO

5^'^

\r, 1/",

t^ O-

On 00
CO CO

ca

O

o

»— 1

o

O

M-i

I-i ""^

r— (

1-^

J2

c

o

-3n

A

_1-

6

6

ca

*— <

T— <

»-H

^-4

15

0!

nJ

-J

u

CO

3

I^ o

1^

op

00

00

1

00

op

00

LO OO"

i^

o" G

'^f rO

-^

ir> -^

^^ ■ ■ ^

'^ o

t^

^ ' V — -

°£

3

J-^ ^

T— 1 CO

U",

1 'T

vO

'I" 't

l/~/

rg vo

CO

lO 00

^ CO

-Nh

■^ CO

^ On'

CO

rx C^

\o ^o

O

r^ 00

in

^H v"^

t-^

1-^ ^^

.— ■

.._^ '•'— ^

\_ _y

x_- x^,^

£

s §

CM

^' S

c

.

r— H 1— <

1—4

•^ (N

r-"*

1 1

1

0^ 't

r\i

^ CM

ir-< vO

O

LO ^

'— ' "^

^^

.—1 >— .

l-O

,_H

r^

lo

\.^

^

^^ I/-,

JJ !/)

»— (

^H

'T'

J\

(N -—

rt 5

cr\

r^

On

•-O 1^

y)::^

""j^

1

""p

a

rv) ^

t— *

a\

*— '

^2:

rg

1—1

rv)

'

CM

No. of
Speci-
men

CO OC

I— ( ^ '

-

CM ^

t— 1

^ Ot-

'XD CH-

^

^ CH-

^

t/5

3

JC

U

C

'o

rt

>%

<u

• ^^

J3

o,

re

[fl

a;

u.

. _

y)

'2

5

8

.s

1*H
M-l

c
3

o

>

C/3

42

W II.MI'.R W . lAiN NKK

The Great Basin Naturalist

Vol. V, Nos. 3 & 4

•Si — S

g-E 2

'^ ° J.l

o

\3

o

p

o

o

00

0^

X

^

o

'o „ o S

!^-^ —

S c

d "rt

,P n-?

^~i ^ro

o

I^

-t

^

o

^

re

o

o

^ — C ^

o

o

o-=^^

""

# ^s

_ -

1-" 3 "

S 8

3

s

o

X-

-1-

t^

X

o
^1

~

rr-;

re

-h

3

o-i .t,

t^ I

> LO

o

^

-^

M

re

rv]

3

^-.

R S

^

w

o

^

Q

^Ir

re

oo

in

~

1^

-

X

X

"

X

=

> i.

v-s 1

m

r^

__

t<

2

2

-t 5

c

—

-

2

2

> .o<

'^-

--e

-

C"

^^

—

-f

in

r^i

^~

■"

*— C"^

® aj S

^1 ■§
•3 »

8 S

g

2

r

^

w

^■.

^,

i

~

i7.

i~

" —

~

~

X

'>\

"

' T,

r^l

^1

-■

_I 1-

— ^-

""

^^

^

"^

"

""

^4

^1

— —

^^

'~

^^

~

"

^1

00 -00

^~. ,-.

2"^

o:

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X X

X

x

X

X

X

cc

o o

oc

00

OC

00

oc

00

X

X

tC tx

00

00

00

oc

X

oc

tyj —

r^ (^

"

r-l. hi.

O (^1

1-

m

j^

TT

•c

^

o

-1-

,_^

X

^

f^)

m

rj -1-

l-o"^

(^1 r-i

^1

4

1-!.

".'

'",'

^

^1

<^1

<^\

f^l

^^1

4

-1-

re

'^1

-+

,-i; -+

^i

g " S

rg tsi

fvi

(si

'^1

^1

'"■1

f^l

^1

'^l

'",'

^.'

^1

^

<V1

> <->

re O

s

^

oc

i^.

_

re

I^

^

( 1^

'^

t^

"^I

-}-

o

re

re

?J ?^

(N

rj

fM

r^4

^1

1^1

'^i

f^l

R! ^'

r-,

(M

r^i

<N1

in U-)

in

t-^

o

-1-

O

r>^

r-v

IM

in ^

\^

O

O

(VI

CI. bic

lO -t-

-t

in

in

m;

-t

m

•i

r*^ —

o

r^'l

l/,

r^

rx

r^'l

in

,-;

A ""'

6

-1

in

A

^.

*-■ '7

"? T

-1-

in

-t

m. -f

in

tx

ffl

u

X

l^'4

(^1

-1-

r^

4

-1-

X

m fb

-t-

-f-

-t

^

-1-

-1- f^^

-t-

'''

m.

"*"

m

re

-1-

-+

o.

(^1

\o '^

r^

X

o

o

X

o

f^i

Q>

"t

c

— 1^

X

X

^

f^l

^ P

X

X

X

^- '^J

in 1

tx

in

00

X

1-

3" -

i<

,t

X

X

^

X

re

S ?

In;

X

X

j

T

X

"O —

o.

i 'i

-i-

s

s

00

1^

i

re
X

I^

X

C in
tx O.

-

t^;

ix

-

^^

„

in in

1^ r^

i^

t^

—

■ —

—

—

^-

—

— —

--

■ —

—

—

ix

—

tt ui

• —

t^

~x

i^

r-L

IX

t-L

i-^ i-L

t-L

T

tx

Ix

-^

Ix

"re *

On O

2

2;

't

i^

*T

T

^

T

^ ^

T

tx

T

*7

2.

'7

()^K

(N ol

<^i

~\

^

E.

^

V

V

^

•r 'T

~

£.

•7

-7

~

•7

f~l

ol

-^1

f-l

r~l

'M

r~i ^1

~t -

fNj

"'

r'l

r-l

■q-- -

oil

CVJ re

~

CO

ir.

'-t

(^1

't

in

ZI '^'

X

^;

(^1

tx

CM

—

><.■/>

CO

"X) 0+

'X3

CH-

"X)

0+

^

0+

."X)

CH-

"Sd o+

^D

0+

^

0+

'X)

0+

,

3

1)

C

rt

^

y:

P

a

O

_rt

"C

rt

3

c/5

rt

0

1

"rt

n

_^

fcx

3

:3

■^

■y.

.r:

cr.

u

^

rf

c

i~

w

5

O

-3

j2

s

2

^

£

5

Ore. 2'^>. 1^44 A TAXONOMIC STl'DY ol" 1 1 V I'SK ILKN A 43

tlu' iiiternasals and i)r(.fr()iUals lnoadl) coiiwx. '1 he tc-n sjjccinicns
have head leiii,'^ths vaninj^'^ from 8.2-15.3 mm., ave.. 12.78. The head
width rant^'^e from 5.3 to 11 mm. The ,i,M"eatest width occur.s imme-
fliatel}' hack of the e_\e and is maintaint'd for sonic- distance hack of
the eye where it ,i(radually It'ssens in the neck region.

Sci'TELLATiox : Tlie rostral is (hstincl from ahove and only slii^ht-
ly wedjii'cd between the inlernasals. There are two internasals, pre-
frontals, parietals and supraoculars, and one frontal all normal. The
scale is divided with the nostril situated just anterior to the center
and nearer to the inlernasal than to the iirst u]i])er lahial. The loreal
is as high as long or nearly so. and in contact w ith the lower preocular
in all but one specimen examined : these two characters are rarely
found in other forms of tliis genus. There are two subequal pre-
oculars the lower scale much smaller, two nearl\- ecjual pf)Stoculars. the
dorsal scale usually a little larger. The e}e is medium varying from
1.2-2.2 mm. in diameter, its diameter ec|ual to one-half of the inter-
orbital si)aci' or greater. The distance from the orbit to the nostril
is ab(jut equal to the distance from the rostral to the frontal plate.
The temporals are normally 1-2-2, occasionalh 2-2-3. The labials are
variable, twenty counts (ten sitecimens) show seven with 7 upper
labials, the remainder having 8. i he lower labials sIkjw eleven cf)unts
with 9, and the remainder with 1(». \\ hen there are but se\en uijper
labials the 3-4th enter orbit, but when eight are present the 4-5th enter
the orbit : in the specimens having 7 on one side and 8 on the other it
is the second labial which has or has not divided. In the lower labials
it is the third scale which divided to produce 10 scales or remains
single to produce 9 scales. The mental scale is wedge-shai)ed. and in
most specimens elongated dividing the first ])air of labials, in all but
one specimen, F. M. 39092 in which the di\ision is near\- complete,
genials cfiual or sul)e(|ual. The i)osterior genials are divided bv gulars
in 8 of the 10 specimens examined.

Color Pattern: The cei)halic plates are dark, mottled with light
flecks and markings .although it may be almost entirel\- a blue slate
color; extending from the eye back across the lower postocular and
the labials is a dark strij)e, a1)ove .and below which is a smaller light
stripe. The labials, geni.als .and gul.irs are margined and flecked with
dark markings. Across the posterior part of the he.id .and on the nape
are two nuchal blotches or bands; the anterior b.ind is .a light cream
color and extends laterally to the second or third row of scales above
the ventrals. At the median this light band is about 4 scales across,
but is less than two near its lower jioints. Tn most specimens a dark

The Great Basin Naturalist

44 wiLMEK w . r.wMK Vo]. V, Nos. 3 &4

Stripe, about a scale wide, extends from the parietals ])art way across
the light band, but rarely ])isectin_t,^ it. The dark nuchal blotch is 4-5
scales wide at the median and becoming wider laterallv. It terminates
on or before the second row of dorsal scales.

Body and Tail

Proportion and Size: The body is round, moderately thick and
with but little tapering before the tail. Total lengths (see table T)
suggest a species of average to large size as com])ared with other
forms.

Sci'TELLATiON : The dcn-sal scales are smooth with the exception
of an occasional specimen (usuall}' a male) with keeled or knobed
scales above the anus, and in 21-21-19-17 (rarely 15 or 18 at the vent)
longitudinal rows. The reduction to 10 rows occurs from the 101st
to the 118th ventrals. and involves usuall}". the 4-5th lateral rows of
scales; the reduction to 17 rows mav occur anywhere from the 121st
to the 143 ventrals. The ventrals (159-171 ) and caudals (36-47) are
few when compared with other forms in the genus.

Coloration: Posterior to the nuchal blotch is a median series of
large spots, some are complete others are partly or completely divided :
those partly or entirel}' divided tend to divide on the median and there
are usually 3 to 5 groups of these divided or dividing spots along the
back. The spots are moderately large involving from 15 to 20 scales
or more in a few cases, each spot is 2-3 scales long and extend from
the 8th to the 14th rows: the spots are separated by an irregular light
bar less than one scale across. Lateral to the median spots are two
rows of smaller spots which alternate with the median spots and each
other. These spots are on the 2-3 and 5-6 dorsal rows. The scales
to the side of the dorsal spots and between the lateral spots are heavilv
pigmented in most specimens, this reduces the emphasis of the spot-
ting so characteristic of the genus. The ventrals are cream color ex-
cept on the edges where they are flanked with fine spots. The tail in
most specimens is heavily and quite uniformly pigmented, there being
little chance to determine more than a few of the more anterior spots.
Caudals colored the same as the ventrals.

Diac;nosis : The chief characteristics of this species are the two
nuchal bands, the anterior one cream colored, 4-5 scales across, the
second one dark and 4-5 scales across, the dorsal scales reduce to only
17 rows at the vent and there are a reduced number of ventral and
caudal scutes : the total caudal count does not exceed 215 scales. Other
important differences are: a nearly square loreal, posterior genials

I>i'c. 2'^, PM4 A r.woxoMn mtdn (H in i'M(,i.kx.\ 45

divided bv 1-2 i^ulars; iiuiu.il ili\ idiii,;^'. ov nearly sn. llir 1>1 pair of
infralabials on the mi(l\ (.niral lim : 35*/^ of the counts sliow Imt 7
supralabials. atid SS^'f of \\\v tdunts show ^' infralahials.

Raxc.k: It is known from C'osta Kica north to Morelos, .M iclioacan
and Colinia Mcxiro. I ha\i' sc\n only Mexican specimens.

Matkkiai, : Mortlos. near Fluajinlan, K. ii. T. Xos. 5200-1. 5561-
4 and 23476; (luerrero. near Xaranjo. ]■'.. II. T. 23477 and 29806;
Michoacan. Apal/in-on, V. M. 3')092. Colina U. S. N. M. 31385.

Rki.ation.sii ii>s AM) \ AKiATioNs: An interpretation of the rela-
tionships of tonjuatiis to other members of the ijenus must await the
collectin,t; of man\ more si)(.'cimens from states north ot C olima and
Michoacon. The few specimens collected, some of which 1 have not
been ])rivi]e,t;^ed to see, are so variable as to ])ro(luce a confused ])icture.
Two sj)eciniens in a series of TTypsij^lena from Sonora have distinct
lig^ht nuchal bands as well as tin- dark l)an(K hut in otlier respects there
are few resemblances. The dorsals reduce lo 15 rows before the vent
while in turqiialus there are none that reduce before the vent. Tor-
qiiatiis has 215 or less ventral-caudal scutes while forms from Sonora
produce 223 or more with an a\era,L;e of 23.i scutes. In tnyqitutus the
gulars n or 2\ coni]ilelel\ divide tlie |)osterior menials, a condition
seldom encountered in an\ other form. I-\n"thermore. the mental scuie
is elong'ated and divides tlie first i)air of infralal)ia]s in most specimens.

To include ochmrliyiicliiis as a \ariet\' of lorqtialus on tlie basis of
nuchal bands alone wduld be a hazardous s^uess at tins time. There may
well be a close relationship l)etween these two forms but as yet it can-
not be established with any decree of certain! w The dissimilarities.
both in structure and color, stand out when a series of each sjiecies ;s
studied to^^ether.''

7. .Since tins .study was finislicd a repoil liy C .\f. HoKeit ami lames A. Oliver
(\')AS pp. .?78-.^80 presents a series of conclusions regarding tlie status iif tlie torquata-
ochrorhynchus complex. They accept Dunn's (1W6) uniting of ochrorrhynchus with tor-
quata and base their conclusions primarily on two specimens with light nuchal bamls which
were collected with four other specimens at Guirocoha and a single specimen from
Alamos, Sonora. .A series of seven specimens from ("olima, X;iyarit ,ind Siiialoa, Mexico
are also listed. Tin- .Sonoraii series I have seen, the others T have not. They are listed
as having the torquata nape pattern, hut as resembling ochrorhynchus in the number of
labials. It is suggested th:;t the ventrals increase from south to nortli.

Such a change based on our limited data is not as yet advisable because (1) the
ventral caudal totals are more reliable than ventrals or caudals listed alone, and these
do not i>\erl,ip in the ,Sonoran and more southern forms. (2) The nature of the mental
scute must be examine<l. (i) The posterior genials are divided by gulars, or I'early so,
in all torquata examined, none are divided in Sonoran forms. (4) The reduction to 15
dorsal scales does not occur in torquata specinun--. il does in all of the 12 available
Sonoran specimens. (.5) The head is broad in torquata, lli.it is, the interorbital space is
twice or more the diameter of the eye, less in ochrorhynchus. (6) Three rows of lateral
spots in Sonoran ochrorhynchus usually two in torquata.

It is i|uite possible th.il more collecting may proiluee enough evidence to justify the
uniting of ochrorhynchus «it!i torquata. In fact I consider this tn be ,'i real probability.
But as yet eric. ugh data is uc^t at li.nid. and such a procedure would provide us with an
unreal conclusion.

The Great Basin Naturalist
46 WTLMER W. TANNER Yol. V. NoS. 3 & 4

HYPSIGLENA AFFINIS Boulenger, PI. 11, Figs. 2 and b

Hvpsiglena torquata Giinther, Biologia Centrali-Americana. Rept. Batr., Oct.
1894. 'p. 137 (part).

Hypsiglena affinis Boulenger, Cat. Snakes British Mus., II, 1894, pp. 210,
211, pi. 8 (type description; type locality Zacatecas and Jaliisco) Mocquard, Bull.
See. Phil. Pairs, (9), I, No. 4, 1899, p. 157 (Guadalajara) ; and Mission Scien-
tifique au Mexique et dans I'Amerique Centrale, Rept. Livr. 16, 1908, pp. 868-869,
pi. 69, figs. 2, 2a, 2c, (Mexico) : Werner, Zool. Jahrb, 57, 1929, pp. 124, 125
(Key); Taylor, Bull, of the Univ. of Kansas, Vol. 25 June 1. 1938, p. 370-71
Smith, proceedings of the Nat. Mus., Vol. 93, no. 3169, 1943, p. 433. Smith and
Taylor, proceedings of the Nat. Mus., Bull. 187, p. 73.

Leptodaira torquatus torqnatus Dunn., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 22, 1936 (part).

Description

The following description is based on the brief description given
by Giinther and Boulenger, and on a single male specimen No. 4601,
collected by H. M. Smith and now in the V.. H. Taylor collection. I
have examined this later specimt-n and find it distinct from other
forms studied.

Head

The head is long (11.2 mm) and moderately wide (/.()). its shape
resembling that of other forms, l)Ut with less pronounced swelling in
the temporal regions, where the greatest width occurs, ( This may be
due to the small specimen although lioulenger reports one nearly as
small as the one at hand, it may therefore be a species characteristic. )
and an immediate, though gradual lessening in width to the neck region.
The head is distinct from the body but not prominently so.

Scutellation : Rostral as seen from above, .8 mm long, only
slightly wedging between the internasals ; rostral to frontal 2.3 mm. .
diameter of orbit less than half the interorbital space; other cephalic
plates normal, the parietals largest. The nasal scale is divided with
the nostril situated more in the anterior half and is very nearly an
equal distance from the labial and the internasal. The loreal is no-
ticeably longer than high. Only one large preocular, but with two
subequal postoculars the dorsal scale twice the size of the lower. The
eye is moderate with a diameter of 1.7 mm., orbit to nostril 2.0 mm.
The temporals are 1-2-3. Upper labials 7-7. Init possibly some with
8 ; the 3-4 labials enter the orbit and the 5th is the largest. The lower
labials are 10-10. The mental scale is triangle shaped and does not
divide the first pair of lower labials which meet on the mid-ventral line.
There are two pair of genials, the first pair is the larger.

Color Pattern : The cephalic plates are bufif-brown mottled and
flecked with lighter colors ; a dark stripe extends posterior from the

Dec. 29, 1944 ,\ taxoxomic study of hyi'siglena 47

eye across tlie labials wIumc ii irnuiiiates ; above and beUjw it are small
faint light stripes, llie labials, ^cnials and ^ulars are variously mar-
gined and flecked with pigment. I'osterior to the parietals are two
nuchal cross bands. riic Inst one is a li^ht cream colored band 5-6
scales across at the median, and e.xlendinL;' laterally l<j the 4th dorsal
row where it narrows to .> scales in width. Following and adjoining
the light band is the dark- brown nuchal band which is 6-<S scales across
and extends laterally to the third row (jf ik^rsal scales. The dark-
blotch is narrower medially and wider laterally.

Body and Tail

Size and Pro1'(H<tiox : The body is small and slowl\- tapering
from the posterior part of the bod_\- to the vent. The tail is short to
moderate; in two specimens the tail averaged 16% of the total length.
The specimen at hand measures 288 mm. total length with a tail length
of 46 mm.

Scutellation : The dorsal scales are smooth, except for a few
rows above the vent, and each scale has but one apical pit. There are
19-19-17-15 longitudinal rows, with the reduction to 17 rows occur-
ring at the 113th ventral by combining the 4-5 lateral rows. The re-
duction to 15 occurs at the 137th ventral. There are 162 ventrals and
46 caudals. Boulenger lists three specimens with the following ventral
and caudal counts, 164, 168, 162; 43, 39, and 51.

Coloration : Extending from the nuchal blotch is a median series
of large spots some of which have partly or entirely divided on the
median line. The spots are moderate in size and usually involve fewer
than 20 scales, the spots are 2-2j/2 scales long and divided by a light
stripe one scale across. The spots extend from the 6th to the 13th
rows. Lateral to the median spots are three smaller rows alternating
with the dorsal spots and each other, the scales not involved in the
spots are light brown ; the spots are dark brown. The ventrals and
caudals are white.

DiAGNosrs : A species of Hypsiglent producing only one ])reocular ;
seven labials and only 19 dorsal rows of scales.

Range : Known only from the type locality Zacatecas and Jalisco,
Mexico.

Relationship and Variations : On the basis of the one specimen
examined and the three reported by Boulenger in his original descrip-
tion, affinis is related to torquatus only in that it resembles it in color-
ation. The spots are smaller and more numerous and the nape bands
are more extensive than in typical torquatus.

The Great Basin Naturalist

4S vvii.Mi-.k w . lANNKR Vol. V, Nos. 3 & 4

HYPSIGLENA DUNKLEI Taylor

Lcptodcira forqiiala Diinkle and Smith, Notes on some Mexican Ophidians
Occ. Papers of the Alus. dt Zool.. L'liiv. nf Mich., Dec. 16, 1937, No. 363, pp. 10-11.

Hypsigloia torqiiata duuklci Tavlor. Mexican Snakes, Bnll, Univ. Ivan. Vol.
39 No. II June 1, 1938, pp. 374.

General Description

It has iKjt been m\' privilege to study the type specimen (MCZ No.
42594) of this unicjue species and since there are no other specimens
available i am including only the diagnosis as given by Dr. Taylor in
the original description (1938 p. 374).

Hypsiglcua duuklci Smith and Taylor, Proc. Nat. Mus., Bull. 187, p. 73.

"The most northern variant of Hypsiglemi torquata, varying in the following
characters from the typical form : rostral bent far back over the snout, which is
somewhat compressed (wedgelike) rather than rounded; the length of the part
visible above more than three fourths its distance from the frontal ; prefrontals
subtriangular, rather than square, due to the fact that the rostral enter between
them, reducing the length of the suture between them ; posterior chin shields
largest; lower labials, 11-11; loreal irregularly shaped, not square; ventrals, 162,
subcaudals, 57 ; males with tubercular knobs on scales on side above anus ; vertical
diameter of eye minutely less than one-half of the interorbital distance."

Range: Known only from the type locality, Hda. L. Clementina,
near Forlon, Taniaulipas, Mexico.

Remarks : In comparing the original description of dunklei with
other forms of Tiypsiglena, I have found it to be so distinct as to
warrant full species status. That it is in some respects related to
forqitatits is evident from the color pattern, but the scutellation re-
sembles closely that of janii except for the 11-11 labials. Its distinc-
tiveness lies in the greatly elongated rostral. Out of the large series
of Hypsiglena studied I have yet to find a specimen with a rostral
longer than wide as in the case of duuklci. The enlarged rostral, in-
creased number of lower labials, the high caudal count and the pres-
ence of the light nuchal band ]>lus the fact that it is geographically
isolated from other Mexican forms, warrant its elevation to a full
species instead of a subspecies of torquatits.

HYPSIGLENA O. JANII (Duges), PI. II, Fig. 5

Liophis janii Duges, Mem. Ac. Montpelier, VI. 1866, Proc. -Verb. p. 32 (fide
Boulenger).

Hypsiglena t. torquata Taylor. Univ. of Kansas Bull. Vol. 25, p. 371, 1939.

Hypsiglena o. janii Smith, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 93, p. 433, 1943 ; Smith
and Taylor, U. S. Nat. Bull. 187, p. 74, 1945.

Dec. 2W. l'^44 A TAXUXOMIC SllDY Ol' 1 1 V I'SI(j1J;N A 49

( il';Xi;kAL I )l'.SC KIl'TlUX

Tlic following iK-scri|)ii(iii is taken from 5 specimens USNM Nos.
4o513 Tulalaro Michoacau, 'J889 and 11369, collected by Dr. A. Duges
and may represent type material since they were collected from Guana-
juato, Guanajuato, Mexico, the t\ i)e h^ality for janii; USNM. 46444
and MMZ. No. 7724 .\ Rio \ erde and San Luis Pososi, San Luis
Potosi, Mexico. 1 lie description is taken from the later specimen
since it is an achdt female with tin- figures in hracks referring to Ko.
11369 a small male.

Head

Size and Proportions: The head is longer than broad, the width
representing 60-70% of tlie length, and distinct from the body by a
sHght but noticeable constriction in tlie neck region. The parietal and
frontal regions arc flattened, the interorbital space is twice or more the
greatest diameter of the eye. The snout is broadl\- rounded.

ScuTELLATiON I The rostral is moderate in size and slightly wedg-
ing between the internasals in all except No. 11369 in which it is more
deepl\ wedged between the internasals. Rostral as seen from above,
one-half its distance from the frontal or less. The dorsal cephalic
plates arc normal. The nasal is divided with the nostril situated in
the anterior half and nearer the internasal than the labial. The loreal
is moderate to small, much longer than high and widely separated from
the lower preoculars. Two subecjual preoculars, the dorsal scale more
than twice the larger. The diameter of the eye is 2.8 (1.7) mm. and
it is 3.4 (2.0) mm. from the orbit to the nostril, this latter distance
l)eing ec]ual to or slightly less than the distance from rostral to the
frontal. Postoculars 2-2 (2-2) the upper scale twice the larger or
more. TemjKjrals 1-2-3 (1-2-3). The labials are 8-8 (8-8) with one
other specimen showing 7-7. The 6th and 7th are the largest and
about ecjual in size, the 4-5th enter the orbit. The lower labials are
9-9 (10-10) with two (jf the other specimens showing a recluction to
9 scales on one side. The mental is triangle shaped and only partly
dividing the first pair of labials. Two pair of genials about equal in
size.

Color Pattern for Head and Nape: The cephalic plates are
heavily pigmented but mottled with fine light markings. Extending
posterior from the eye across the labials is a dark strijjc which con-
nects with the large nuchal blotch. Tlie blotch is 9 (7) scales across
and dark brown to black, there being but few or no light markings.
From the median of the blotch a dark strip extends anteriorly to the

Tl»e Great Basin Naturalist
50 W]LMKK W. TANNER Vol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

scale immediately hack of ihe i)arietals. The labials, genials, and
gulars are margined and variously llecked with dark markings.

BoDV AND Tail

Size and Proi-oktion : The body is moderately thick and tapers
gradually for the last third of the body to the vent. The total length
is 581, (204) mm. with a tail length of 78 (32) mm. In only o. dcserti-
cola have I examined specimens larger than those of this group.

ScuTELLATioN : The dorsal scales, except for a few rows above
the vent, are smooth, possess but one apical pit and are in 21-21-19-17
Ifjngitudinal rcjws. The reduction to 19 rows occurs at the 116th ven-
tral. (No. 11369 is in poor condition and cannot be used for this
character.) The reduction continues to 17 at the 154 ventral, although
it occurs before this point in other specimens. \n both reductions
the 4-5 dorsal rows combine to produce the reduction. The ventral s
are 167 (162) with one specimen showing 173 scutes. Caudals 45 (51).

Color Pattern : A median series of large spots extend from the
dark nuchal blotch along the back to the tail where they become small
and confused. These spots number 47 (44) on the body. Each body
spot involves 20 or more scales extending from the 7th or 8th to the
14 or 15th rows and are separated from each adjoining spot by a
small light bar about half a scale across. Lateral to the dorsal spots
and alternating with them and each other are two rows of lateral spots
on the 6-8 and the 3-4 dorsal rows. The scales not in the spots are
light brown or brownish gray, but not as light as those dividing the
median spots. The under parts are white and immaculate.

Diagnosis: A large sub-species of ocJirorJiynchiis, varying from
the typical form in having a large dark nuchal blotch which is usually
8 or more scales long at the median and extends laterally to the 3rd
row of dorsals ; the blotch extending across the labials to the angle of
the mouth is not interrupted, but fused with the large blotch. There
are 17 dorsal rows at the vent, a lower average in ventrals and caudals
(see table II), and the diameter of the eye is less than one-half the
interorbital space. Infralabials 10% 8, 40% 9, and 50% 10.

Range: The plateau north of Mexico City, including at least the
plateau area of the states of Michocan. San Luis Potosi and Guana-
juato, Mexico.

Relationship and A'ariation.'^ : Closely related to fe.vana from
which it differs in having a large united nuchal blotch. Whether janii
intergrades with ocJirorhynchus to the north will not be known until a
series of specimens are secured from the area between southeastern

Doc. 2^. 1944 A lAxoxoMic ^^^^^ oi mrsi(;i.r.NA 51

.Arizona and nt iilliw tsU'i'ii San l.uis I'otosi.

.A stuih' of the scale counts aloiu' ])arall(.'ls those of louiitalus verv
close! \. however, tlic lorcals of /(///// arc not s(|uarc sha])C(l hut much
lousier than hii^h and llicrc is a s^rcater conslricti(»n ot t]u' neck rci^non
jiro(hicin^" a more distinct liead tlian is tlic case ot Innjiiii/us. Before
a true picture of tlic relationship of an\ of tlie Mexican form of
HA'jJsii^lena can he S(.en, a far fjreater numlier of s])ecinuns w iU need
to he secured from ah [hv Mexican states, on the central ])laleau as
well as the coastal areas on each side.

Rkm.\rks: This form has the dorsal sjiols \aryin,L; in numher from
44-48 with a mean f)f 46.5 for the .i^roup : (K (h-lirorliyiu-lnts and tor-
quafus hoth have a few specimens with as few or fewer spots, but the
mean for the entire i^rou]) in each case far exceeds that for o. janii.
It tlierefore seems likel\' that janii rejjresnts a form with fewer bur
larj^er spots.

HA'PSTGT.EX.A O. TEXAXA Slejneger

Hypsiijlena texaiia Stejneger; N. Amcr. Fauna, no. 7, May 1893, p. 205 (type
description ; tvpe locality, "between Laredo and Camargo, Texas) ; Strecker, Bay-
lor Bull., XV'll, No. 4, 1915, p. 40.

Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus texana Stejneger and Barbmir ; (heck list X. Anier.
.\mpli. Kept. 1917, p. 93; 2d Fxl. 1923. p. 104.

Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus Hibhard ; II. ochrdrhyncluis in Ivansas and add.
notes on Leptotyphlops dulcis ; Copeia No. 1, 1937, p. 74. Ciloyd, Ff. K.. and
Kuntz, Robert E. H. ochrorhynchus in Okla. Copeia. No. 2, 1940 p. 136; Van
Denbourgh, Reptiles of West. N. Amer. Vol. II p 781 ; Taylnr. Alexican Snakes,
Bull. Uniy. Kan. Vol. 39 no. II 1938 pp. 368-69.

Gknerat. Di-.S(Kii>'noN
TTkao

Size ani") PKoroKTioN : The he.id is moderate to short, its length
only 27-4.3 ])er cent Ioniser than its width, the temporal rei^ions are
swollen ])ro(lucin,L;- a distinct hroad head. Cephalic plates usualK'
broadly convex, the ])arietals and frontal occasionall\- llat. Head be-
fore the eyes round, rai)idh' taperim;" to the broadly rounded snout.

ScuTELLATiox : Rostral lari^e protruding- ;md wedyiui^ between the
internasals for a distance e(|ual to 1 /.i to 1/2 the distrmce from the
rostral to the frontal; inteinasals nnich wider ])osteriorly ; i)refrontal.
frontal, supraoculai" and parietal jilates normal. Xasal divided, its
width s^reater than half the lenj.^th, nostril in or anterior to the center;
loreal longer than high ; two sube(|ual ])reoculars the ui)per part at least
three times the larger; eye moderate, its diameter slightly less than the
distance from fr(»ntal to rostr.al, ;nid ecpial to 12 the inlerorbital dis
tance ; two sube(|ual postoculars, the dorsal sc;de larger; temporals

The Great Basin Naturalist
52 WILMER \V. TANNER Vol. V. Nos. 3 & 4

normally 1-2-3; upper labials 8-8; lower labials 10-10, mental small,
triangle shaped and surrounded by the first pair of labials which meets
on the mid-ventral line; two pair of genials. the tirst equal to or larger
than the posterior pair, posterior pair often divided b\' one or two
gulars.

Coloration ; Cephalic plates usuall}" a dark grayish brown, mot-
tled with irregular light spots, nape with three distinct elongate dark-
spots, the median spot extending from the parietals back a distance
of from 9-13 scales and is 2-5 scales across; the median spot is divided
from the two lateral spots by two distinct light strips about half a scale
wide; lateral spots large and conspicuous, extending anteriorly at least
to the eye, not divided at the angle of the mouth ; a light line borders
the lower edge of the lateral spot extending frf)m the nasal posteriorly
to beyond the labials, 6th supralabial with the upper half or more in
the lateral spot. A dark bar bordering the genials extends across the
first 5 infralabials : genials and gulars with varying amounts of pig-
ment.

Body and Tail

Size and Proportion : The bod}- is round stout and with a mod-
erate to short rapidl\- tapering tail : total length up to 468 mm., aver-
age, when compared with other forms.

Scutellatiox : Dorsal scales in 21-21-19-17 (15) rows, reducing
to 19 rows between the 99 and 124 ventral, the reduction to 17 rows
occurs between the 124 and 156 ventrals. The uniting of the 4-5 row's
produces the reduction in each case. A^entrals from 154-181, sub-
caudals 38-55.

Coloration: The ground color is dark, due princij^ally to a me-
dian series of large dark spots which extend from the nuchal blotch
along the back, most spots are complete and extending from the 7th
to the 15th row of scales and involving, when complete, 20 or more
scales; each spot is divided by an irregular light cross bar about 1/2
to 1 scale across ; dorsal spots range from 40-58 ; lateral to the median
spots are two (rarely 3) rows of alternating spots, the first row is
large, extending from the 4th to the 7 or 8th row and involving 6 or
more scales; the more lateral row of spots is but half the size of the
1st and involving the 2-4 scale rows. Ventrals and caudals rarely with
spots or flecks.

Diagnosis: Tcxana is a variation of ochrorhyuchus from which
it differs in having larger spots, and a long median nape spot which
extends from the j)arietals posteriorly for a distance of 9-13 scales and

[>€C. 29, 1044 A lAXONOMir STIDV <il mi'SK.I.KKA 53

varies in width diiK mu' (ir iwo scalr rows tor tlu- ciiuri.- dislance.
Because of the lari^e dark spots the i^roiind color is darkci' than in
typical ochrorhynrhiis : fewer \i'ntralsand a \ entral-caudal total which
rarely exceeds 224 scutes, ujtper half of the Oth infralahial in the lateral
spot.

Raxcf. : I'^roni northern \uevo ] .eon and C'ordiuila. Mexico, north
throuf^h Central I\\as and ( 'klalionia to soutliern Kansas and west
into New Mi-xico. The material examined is as follows:

MEXICO: Nuevo l.eon : Huastua Canyon. 11 mi. W. of Mon-
tery E.H.T. 5202: Coahuila : .^2 mi. W. of .^an I'edro k:.FI.T. 4599-
46(X): and 1 C, miles X.W. of .Saltillo k.li.T. 4595.

UNITED STATl-:.^: Texas: Hidalj-o Co.. l-'.dmlur-. Cornell
1601: Duval Co., .San Die-o, U.S.N. M. 15672; Wehl. C"o.. Loredo
(type localitv I. L'..S..\.A1. 7124; Reeves Co., Weinath Drow. M.M.Z.
51730; la ra.so Co.. I'd Paso, Cornell 667 and Ch.A.S. 5319; Bosque
Co., Clifton. Cornell 769; Palo Pinto C(j.. I'alo Pinto. Cornell 2384.
Ch.A.S. 10478-9, and L.M.K. 6878 ; Ander.son Co.. Montalba. U.S.N.M.
99768; Taylor Co.. 20 nn. S.W. of Al.ilenc. C"]i..\.S. 1121(); I'.aylor
Co.. U.C. 12603.

Oklahoma: Comanche Co., 5 miles .\.\\ . of Cache. CO. 22060-1 ;
3/2 miles N. of Cache near Cniter Creek, U.O. 2207 and Ch.A.C. 4674.

Kansas:^ Barber Co., Sun City, R.C

New- Mexico: Eddy C(j.. Carlsbad Coverns. M.M.Z. <S()163: Ber-
nalillo Co.. Carsal Si^rini^', S.U. 5110; Valencia Co.. Los Lunas, U.S.
N.M. 107347: Catron Co.. 1 mile X. of Clenwood, 13 miles S.Pl of
Glenwood. M.M.Z. 7^2M-3.

Relatioksitti's : Closelx- related to o. jdiiii from which it ])rol)al)l\-
orij.,dnated. and similar in that the spots are the same size and about
the same number, the dorsals reduce only to 17 at the vent and both
are dark colored forms. IJoth /(///;'; and tcxdiin ha\e broad heads, and
the diameter of the orbit is eipial to or less than half the interorbital
space. Some specimens from extreme southern 1 exas. Xuevo Leon,
and Coahulia tend toward a uniting;" of tin- nape s])0ts into a solid
band. This condition is. no doul>!, an inter^radinj^' character with
jdiiii. .Specimens from the bi.L; bend ai"ea of the Kio ( irande have a
much hiy'her vential-caudal count and a tendenc\ for the dorsals to
reduce to 15 rows at the \ent. These scutellation difierences plus the
smaller more nunmous spots show an inter^iradation with d. dchror-
hynchus to the west. This same set of characters appears in speci-

8. Ttiree specimens rcportid li(.iii Hhitf Cnelv. (laik (.1.. Kan-. is. liy llililianl, Copcia
Xo. 1, W^J, p. 74, are well uitliin tin- scale fmimilae listeil lor tliis species.

The Great Basin Naturalist
54 WILMER W. TANNER Vol. V. Nos. 3 & 4

mens from Western New Mexico in which interf^radalion with o.
ochrorhynchiis is evident.

The most t3'pical specimens of tcxana are to be found from Loredo
(type locality) east to Edenburg. Texas, north through central and
eastern Texas and through Oklahoma to Kansas.

HYPSIGLEN.\ OCHRORHYNCHUS OCHRORHYNCHUS Cope

Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus Cope. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 12. Nov. 15,
1860, p. 246 (type description; type locality, "Cape St. Lucas." Bajo California,
Tohn Xantus, collector) ; and Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. I, 1875, p. 38 ; Yarrow,
Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 24, 1883, pp. 15, 97 (Cape San Lucas, La Paz, Baja
California: Durango, Mexico; Cope, Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. Philadelphia.
XXXin. p. 285 (Chihuahua); and Bull U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 32, 1887, p. 78,
Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XIV, 1891 (1892), p. 617; Stejneger, N. Amer. Fauna.
No. 7, May, 1893, pp. 204-205 (Cape St. Lucas) ; Boulenger, Cat. Snakes British
Mus. Vol. n, 1894, p. 209; Van Denburgh, Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. (2), Vol. 5, 1895.
p. 145; Occ. Papers Cal. Acad. Sci., V. 1897, p. 178; Mocquard, Nouv. Arch. Mus.
Hist. Nat.. Paris, (4), I 1899, p. 325 (Bulege, Bajo California) ; Cope, Ann. Rept.
U. S. Nat. Mus., 1898 (1900), p. 953, fig. 245; Van Denburgh. Proc. C"al. Acad.
Sci. (3). Zool., Vol. 4, No. 5, 1906. p. 65; Ditmars' Reptile Book, 1907. p. 329,
pi. CI, Fig. 1; Van Denburgh and .Slevin, Proc. California Acad. Sci. (4), Vol. 3,
1913, p. 414; Van Denburgh and Slevin, Proc. California Acad. Sci., (4) 5, 1915,
p. 106; Stejneger and Barbour, Check list N. Amer. Amph. Rept., 3d Ed., 1933,
p. 113; Allen, Occ. Papers Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich., No. 259, p. 12 (Hermosillo,
Son.) ; Taylor, Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 24, 1936 (Feb. 15, 1938), pp. 494-495..
and Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull., 25. 1939, pp. 357-383, 1 fig. 4 pis.; Little. Copeia
No. 4, p. 264.; Perkins, Bull.. Zool. Soc, San Diego No. 16, 1940; Smith, Proc.
of the U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 93, p. 433, 1943 ; Smith and Tavlor, U. S. Nat. Mus.
Bui. 189 pp. 72-74, 1945.

Hypsiglena chlorophaea Cope. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1860, p.
247( type description; type locality, Fort Buchanan, Arizona, Irv^^in, collector);
Stejneger, N. Amer. Fauna, No. 7, 1893, p. 205; Mocquard, Nouv. Arch. Mus.
Hist. Nat., Paris. (4), I 1899, p. .325 and Mission Scientifique au Mexique et
dans I'Amerique Centrale, livr. 16, 1908, p. 869, pi. 69, fig. 1. la-d ; Garman, Bull.
Essex Inst., 16, Jan. 9, 1884, p. 30.

Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus chlorophaea Cope. Proc. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
1866, p. 304; and Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. No. T, 1875, p. 38 (Arizona); Coues,
Wheeler's Rept. Surv. W 100th Merid., V, 1875, p. 622 ; Yarrow Bull. U. S. Nat.
Mus. No. 24, 1883, pp. 15, 97, 190; Garman. Mem. Mus. Cornp. Zool., Harvard
College. VIII, No. 3, 1883, pp. 80, 161 ; and Bull. Essex Inst., 16, 1884, p. 30.

Hypsiglena torquata Giinther. Biologia Centrali-Americana, Tept. Batr. Oct.,
1894, p. 137 (part.) ; Mocquard, Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans I'Ameri-
que Centrale, Rept., livr. 16, 1908, pp. 866-868, pi. 69, figs. 3. 3a, 3c, 3d (part).
(He states, Bocourt believed H. ochrorhynchus distinct from H. torquata.)

Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus ochrorhynchus Stejneger and Barbour. Check list
N. Amer. Amph. Rept., 1917, p. 93; Van Denburgh and Slevin Proc. California
Acad. Sci., (4), XI, 1921, pp. 28, 52, 68; Van Denburgh, Occ. Papers California
Acad. Sci., X, 2, pp. 780, 783, pi. 85; Stejneger and Barbour, Check list N. Amer.
Amph. Rept., 2d Ed., 1923, p. 104.

Leptodeira torquata ochrorhynchus Dunn. Pruc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 22, 1936, pp.
691, 695. ; Bogert and Oliver, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Vol. 83, art. 6, 1945, pp. 378-81.

Dec. 2^^ 1944 a taxon'omic study oj- hypsiglkna 55

( jl-.NKkAI. J )l-;SCKI I' TKJN
1 1 KM)

riu' lu'ad is moderate in size, ils leiiyth M)-45 per cent greater than
its width, (hstinct from bod)', ihit from the eye posteriorly and with a
rounded snout.

SciTKLLATiox : The rostral is distinct from above, shghtly to
moderately wedged between the two internasals, its length not exceed-
ing one half the distance from the rostral to the frontal, more com-
monly 1/3 the distance. 'Vwo internasals, prefrontals, supraoculars,
parietals and one frontal, all normal ; nasal plate divided, the nostril
near the center or slightly anterior; loreal moderate to small, longer
than high and rare!}' in contact with the lower preocular ; ])reoculars
2-2 the ui)per twice that of the lower; eye moderate, its diameter less
than the distance from the orbit to nostril and equal to or slightly
larger than one half the inierorbital space; temporals normally l-2-.>;
supralabials 8-8, rarely 7or 9, the 6th largest; infralabials 10-10, the
first pair in contact on the mid-ventral line, mental triangle or wedge
shape, ncjt ocmpletely dividing the tirst pair of labials; two pair of
genials, the postgenials are larger in 45% of the specimens studied,
equal to the anterior genials in 50% of the specimens.

Color Pattern : The head is variable, more commonly it consists
of light to medium colored cephalic plates, flecked with small irregular
spots and followed posteriorly by three nuchal spots, the median spot
is elongate, usually widest from the middle posterior, but often uniform
in width, ranging from 7-12 scales long and from 2-5 scales wdde;
lateral spots large and extending anteriorly to the eye in all but a few
specimens. Labials margined and variously decked, gulars and genials
with fme flecking.

IJoDV AND Tail

A moderate to slender body with a total length u]) to 500 nun.;
tail moderate to long.

ScuTKLLATioN : l)(jrsal scales smooth or with a few keeled or
knobed scales above the vent, and in 21-21-19-17-15 longitudinal rows.
In a few males and over half of the females there are 17 rows at the
vent; the reduction to 19 rows occurs from the 68th-13()tli ventral,
90% reduce between 105th and 125th ventral; the reduction to 17
row's occurs l)etween the 105-160th ventrals, usually after the 125th;
when there is a reduction to 15 rows it occurs between 125th-185th
ventral, rarely before the 150th. The first two reductions are accom-
plished by the uniting of the 4-5 rows on each side while in the last

Tlie Great Basin Naturalist
56 WlLMKk W . TANNK.k Vol. V, Nos. 3 & 4

reduction the 3-4 (2-3 occasionally) unit. \ enlrals range from 161-
191, caudals from 38-66 scales.

Color Pattern : x\ series of dark spots extend from the nape
posteriorly along the hack, over a hackground of Hght gray to brown.
The spots are medium to small usually extending from the 8th to the
14th rows, involving less than 20 scales and l)eing separated by a light
cross bar 1-2 scales across, each spot is about 2 scales long. Lateral
to the dorsal spots are 3 rows of smaller spots alternating with the
dorsal spots and eacli other, these spots are usually found on the 1-2,
3-4 and 5-6 rows, usually between the rows, although shifting from
one row to another, it is not uncommon and may occur if the spots are
small or larger, or if only 2 lateral rows are present; there are from
38 to 71 medium spots on the body, tail spots indistinct for part or all
of the distance in most specimens, when distinct, they range from 15
to 36; ventrals and caudals may or may not be tlecked, if flecked then
near the edges.

Diagnosis: The t3'pical ochrurhyncliKs is distinguished from
icxana bv its light pigmentation between and lateral to the dorsal spots,
and by the smaller and less extensive dorsal and nuchal blotches. In
scalation 70% of the ochrorhynchus specimens studied possessed less
than 17 rows above the vent. From jcDiii it differs in having three
nuchal blotch and bv smaller dorsal spots. From vcnusia it differs by
its larger and fewer dorsal spots which are not divided medially and
by fewer ventral and caudal scutes. From klaiihcri by reason of its
complete lateral nape spot, and the extension of the medial spot to or
within a scale of the parietal. From descrticola by it low ventral and
caudal counts and also by its elongate medial nape spot. From iinaocii-
lariis and lorcahts because of its single loreal and from tortugaensis
because of a much lower caudal count and a complete lateral nape spot.

Range: Arizona, Sonora, Chihuahua, extreme southwestern Texas
and the southern portion of Lower California. Specimens from the
following localities have been examined :

Mexico: Lower California: Cape San Lucas, L.M.K. 10712-3.
10715-7, 6978, 2729; N.S.N.M. 9216, 37528, and F.M. 25865; La Paz.
U.S.N.M. 12648A-B-C; Isla Partida, C.A.S. 51009-10; Sierra Laguna
Mts., C.A.S. 45889; San Jose Is.. L.M.K. 3815-16, C.A.S. 57398, 57392 ;
El Norvillo. M.C.Z. 36898; Eureka, U.C. 11905-6; Santa Anita, U.S.
N.M. 37527.

Sonora: Near Hermosillo, M.M.Z. 72100; Pilores, M.M.Z. 78433 ;
10 miles N.W. of Guaymas, E.H.T. 4597; 5 miles S.W. of Hermosillo.
E.H.T. 4596; 5 miles N.W. of Guaymas, E.H.T. 4598; Guirocoba.

Dec. 29. 1944 a taxonomic study ok iivrsKJLKNA 57

A.M. 6Z7M-7\ and Alamos. A.M. 64246.

Chihuahua: Kio Ma}'o, ( iuasarcmas. M.C.Z. 4.^27>^ ; ami L.S.X.M.
14287.

Inilcd .Siau-s: .Vrizona: I'inia Co., Tuscon. L.M.K. 32057. 32275.
322')2. M7^Z\ A.M. 5(W. 02938. 2.545. 2.542; U.A. 209 (three speci-
nieusi. C..V.S. 33874. 80731; .San Zavicr. i..M.K. 32319-20; Sa^maro
Xat. Mon.. .s.M. 28; Vail. Cornell 836; Gun.sij^ht, C.A.S. 35339; Cata-
lina Mts., C.A.S. 34276; Sabino Canyon, L..M.K. 29.507; Santa Cruz
Co.. Pena Blanca Sp.. M.M.Z. 75784; 4 nnles S. of Tuhac, Ch.AS.
10347; Nogales, U.S. N.M. 17176; Cochise Co.. Tomstone. VM. 543,
903; Bisbee, Ch.A.S. 11287; Pinal Co.. in and near Florence. Ch.A.S.
10274-6, 10278-80, M.C.Z. 14453; 6 miles W. of Superior. Ch.A.S.
10277; Superior, M.M.Z. 11977; Casa Grande Nat. M(jnunKnl. C.A.S.
4491 ; 5 miles West of Superior. CM. 19824 Gila Co.. Miama. xM.xM.Z.
84<>()7: Roosevelt Dam, U.S. N.M. 105237; Iron's Ranch between Su-
perior and Miania, Ch..V..S. 10331 ; Maricopa Co., Arlington, L.M.K.
34347; 7 miles S. of Wickenburgh. Ch.A.S. 3650; Wickenl)urg, Ch.A.S.
3493 ; Phoenix, A.M. 9184; U.S. N.M. 56214; Yavapai Co., Ft. Whipple,
U.S.N.M. 8032; Yarnell, L.M.K. 8438; Ashbark, 29760; 8 miles N.W.
of Wickenburg. Ch.A.S. 3478; Prescott, U.S.N.M. 15701; Coconino
Co.. 15 miles W. of Winslow L.M.K. 5427; Grand Canyon. C.C.N. P.R.
66, R99; Mohave Co.. Kingman. L.M.K. 32320; Navajo Co., 8 miles
E. of Winslow, L.M.K. Two specimens A.M. 3709 and C.A.S. 33814
are labeled Arizona. Two specimens U.S.N.M. 8031 and S.U. 4013
are labeled Camp Grant. i)n(t specimen C.A.S. 17548 is from Cave
Creek and one A.M. 15068 is from Nigger Jim Can. Huachuca Mts.

Texas: Brewster Co., Glenn Spr., M.M.Z. 66020; near Govern-
ment spr. Chisas Mts., U.S.N.M. 16792.

Rklationshii'.s : A complete or even a near complete interpreta-
tion of this group is Cjuite impossible because of insufficient material
,in many critical areas, and also because the group provides one with
such a nuiltilude of problems that consideraljle time will be needed
befcjre many of the complexities can be interpreted. llo\\e\er. cer-
tain trends arc evident and these shall be dealt with briefly.

Specimens studied from Arizona exhibit a more generalized set of
characters than can be found in specimens collected in most other
areas; not only do these specimens tend to intergrade with and show
striking resemblances to those forms to the south and east but thoy
also tend to intergrade witli all other forms north and west of Arizona.
In ventral and caudal scalation there is (from the available specimens)
a steady increase in numbers from San Luis Potosi, Mexico north

The Great Basin Natuialist
5S VVILMEK W. TANNER Vol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

through central Arizona to Utah and the Great Basm area. This same
situation exists from east central Texas west through New Mexico
and Arizona to the eastern (desert) part of California. In dorsal
scalation the trend is reversed, jajiii and texana produce 17 dorsal
scales at the vent with Great Basin specimens (deserticula) to the north
and west with but 15 rows in most specimens; Arizona specimens are
mixed but with more showing 15 rows. In color pattern a comparable
condition exists, janii produces a large dark nuchal blotch. Arizona
specimens show narrow bands as well as the three spots characteristic
of deserticola. The size and number of the dorsal spot also vary from
south, large and fewer, to north, smaller and more spots.

The specimens from California produce a more confused picture
principally because the collecting has been done in widely separated
areas such as, near the San Francisco Bay area. Western San Diego
County, Cape San Lucus, Santa Rosalia and San Jaquinto. With these
groups and the very few specimens collected in between it is impossible
to answer why there exists such a considerable variation. It is evident
that venusta is more closely related to deserticola than it is to ochror-
hyncluis at or near the Cape, but I have not seen a specimen which
was collected between eastern San Diego County and Santa Rosalia
nearly 1000 miles to the south. Specimens collected on the east edge
of the peninsula and the islands in the gulf near Santa Rosalia, and
south to Loredo and Carmon Island belong to venusta, and are distinct
in color pattern as well as having more ventral and caudal scutes. The
number of ventrals and caudals show an increase from the Cape north
(on the east edge only) to Santa Rosalia. Specimens on the Cape and
north on the west side are more like those of Western San Diego
County (klauhcri) than they are like venusta, but there is a distinct-
ness in the color pattern of western San Diego specimens that is not
found in any other form; the nape spots are smaller usually several
scales posterior to the parietals, and the lateral spots are divided poste-
rior to the angle of the mouth. Two specimens taken on the Isla
Partida are intergrades. The new subspecies tortugaensis is closely
related to venusta but differs in having more caudals, 17 rows at the
vent, and longer nuchal spots.

The most perplexing problem is the two separated pockets of o.
ochrorhynchus, the one at the Cape and the other in Arizona, north-
western Chihuahua and Sonora. Crotalus v. oraganus has two distri-
butional areas, the west coast and a smaller pocket in Arizona. In
ochrorhynchus the two races are much more widely separated and with
little chance that thev could have been in contact with each other for

r)cC. 20. 1^44 A TAXdNdM U SIIDN ()| in TSU .l.l-.XA 59

.'I Idiij^ timr. ^ rt the (.■xurnal in(ir])li(ili)L;ic;il cliaractcrs arc similar.
Cope's {lfscrii)ti()ii of spccinirns from \'\. I '.ucliaiian. Arizona as a new
species, C'lilorojjliat'S. caiinut lie (.■(insidcred as hrini; a \ali<l f(»rni.

HYPSIGLEXA O. 1)I-:SF.K'II(()L.\ I aniier snli. sp. nnv. PI. I \ I'l. I IT. h'\g. 3

• DKScKirriox of riii-: Tnpk
Head

Stzk and Siiai'k: The head is 38 ]k-v ct-nl longer than wide. Flat
between the orbits and with a rounded snout : the diameter of the
orbit. 2.1. is less than halt' the interorbilal space ot 4.7.

ScuTELLATlox : Rostral as seen t'rom abo\e 1.1, rostral to t'rontal,
2.8; dorsal head plates normal: nasal di\ided. twice as lonj.^ as hi^h ;
nostril near the middle of the scale: loreal lar^e, longer than high;
preoculars 2-2 the lower scale nuich the smaller and not in contact with
the loreal. postoculars two on the rit^ht side, three on the left side, b}"
reason of a division of the lower scute; temporals 1-2-3. the first tem-
jioral plate dixided : supralabials 8.8: mental moderate: infralabials 10-
10; two pair of j^enials of e((ual size and se])arated from thi- first
ventral by' 7 gulars.

Coloration: The dorsal plates are uniformh' tlecked and ])roduce
a dark £,M-ay color ; extendinj^- from each e}e ])osteriorly across the lower
postocular. the top portion of the labials and the edjj^es of the temporals,
is a dark strip which fuses w ith the lateral spots on each side. IMedian
spot distinct, separated from each lateral spot 1)>- a liijht stripe ]/> to
one scale wide, and extendin_er from the first scale posterior to the
parietals back for a distance of 9 scales. The anterior portion of the
spot is 4y2 scales long and 2^/^ row s wide, w hile the posterior portion
is 4y2 scales long and 7 rows wide : lateral and medial spots dark brown.

Dentation: There are 8 small anterior superior maxillary teeth
followed after a short space bv two large ungrooved fanglike teeth.

Body and Tatt.
The body is cylindrical and w ith a total length of 392 mm. of which
the tail comprises 66 mm.

SciTKi.r.ATiON : Dorsal scales in 21-21 10-17-15 rows; all smooth
except a few above the vent which bear small knobs near their base;
the first reduction occurs at the 118th ventral by a fusion of scale rows
4-5. the second reduction occurs at the 131st ventral l)y a fusion of the
same scale row v. ihe third leduction occurs at the l(i7th \entral with
rows 3--1 uniting on one side and 2-.^ on tlu' olhei": ventrals 189; anaJ

The Great Basin Naturalist
60 \VII,MKK W . TANXKK Yo]. V, NoS. 3 &4

platf divided, and with 56 pairs of subcaudal scutes.

Coloration : The dorsal color pattern is one of a gray background
with a series of 52 medium sized brown spots, extending from the head
along the back to the tail where spotting becomes indistinct and con-
fused; each dorsal spot extends from the 8th to the 14th scale row
and is from 1-2 scales long and involves 12-15 scales; spaces m be-
tween the spots lighter in color than those scales lateral to the spots
and from lyi to 2^/2 scales long; lateral to the dorsal spots are three
rows of smaller spots which alternate with the dorsal spots and each
other, these spots are on the following scale rows. S-7. 3-4 and the 1-2,
lateral spots small but distinct ; ventrals and caudals immaculate except
for line flecking near the d(jrsals.

Diagnosis; Related to H. o. flchrorliyitcluis. but differing from it
in the following cf)lor and scale characteristics ; medial nape spot
greatly enlarged posteriorly, as wide as half its total length or more,
lateral nape spots complete, the number of dorsal spots high 49-75.
Dorsal scales mostly in 15 rows at the vent. \ entrals high, male 177-
195, female 186-204, caudals male 49-66. female 44-57; spots medium
to small.

Type; P..Y.L'. Xo. 2836. a male collected from under a rock on a
small isolated ridge which juts out into the valley and is near the road
which leads from chimney rock pass to Fairfield, on the west side of
Cedar Valley, between 3 and 4 miles northwest of Chimney Rock Pass,
Utah Co., Utah. This specimen was collected by the author, August
11, 1939, and is deposited in the Krigham Young University herpeto-
logical collection.

The following paratypes all collected in Utah County are listed as
follows; P..Y.U. Xos. 2196-98 are topotypes; No. 2198 is being sent
*o the U.S. National Museum, and No. 2197 to Stanley Mulaik at the
University of Utah. R.Y.U. Nos. 2709, 2026-28, 7937, 8014 and M.
M.Z. 92327 from Meseda Bench foot hills, near Chimney Rock Pass
northwest end of Utah Lake ; B.Y.U. No. 640 from the foot hills west
of the northwest end of Utah Lake; and B.Y.U. Nos. 3014, 3938 and
8011 Bonneville Terrace at the base of "Y" Mountain east of Provo.
Other material examined is as follow^s ;

Utah; Utah County; Meseda Bench, B.Y.U., Nos. 3960, 2045 and
7020; Alpine, No. 6924; Salt Lake Co., N.E. edge of Salt Lake, Ft.
Douglas, U.U. 1402-7. 1416. C.A.S. 30925-6; Box Elder Co.. Brigham
City, Ch.A.S. 5318; Washington Co.. Zion Canyon Nat. Park, B.Y.U.
2039, 2336, 90, 3958-9 and Z.N. P. 22, 55A-B. 70; St. George, B.Y.U.
376. 1318. 1512. and R.H. 1495A, D.C. 72, 61-2 and one specimen

1)00.20.1044 A TAXdNOM U M I 1)N (H 1 1 \ IS It il.KN A 61

without a minilior: W atorcross Sj)i".. K. II. 21 and 77\: lU-avor Dam
.Mts., R.ll. 1S2S.\ and I'..V.L'. 2%8.

W'ashint^non : (irant Co.. \^'intago T'"crry. U.\\'. (tlirot- numbered
.speoimons) .

( )ro.^on : liiatilla Co.. 1 Icrniistoii, C.l'..'^. .^700. 3714.

Idaho: Ada Co., Swan Falls. l.S.M. (S. 7 miles E. of I'.oiso, I.S.M.
9. 15 miks S. of P.oise. C.A.S. 64W8 and M.M.Z. 68297; Canyon Co.,
2 miles .S. of .Mr]|.;i, C.C. 18304.

Nevada: llumholdt Co., W'innenuicca. I'.Y.U. 2912; Xye Co..
Current. S.W. 7508; Whitr I'ine Co., C. C. 24584; Clark Co.. Virgin
Valley, U.C. 1277.

Arizona: Cooouino Co.. liris^lit .\n,i;ol C"roek. (irand Canyon .\'at.
Park. U.S.N. M. 44266.

California: Mona Co.. 2 miles W . of Shealy. I'.C. 12765; Inyo
Co., Argus Alts. C.A.S. 65502. L'.S.X.Al. 18071 ; Wild Rose Canyon.
Panament Mts. C.C. 18049-50: Alabama Hills 3 miks W. of Lone
Pine, U.C. 6688; 5 miks X. of Tourne's Pass, L.M.K. 25360; San
Bernadino Co.. Cedar Canyon. I'rovidonoe Mts. U.C. 26659 (inter-
grade) ; Riverside C(j.. liird Canyon. Little San lUrnadino Mts. L.M.K.
31540; Fan Hill. Little San Rernadino Mts.. L.M.K. 31549; Cotton-
wood. C.A.S. 64675; San Diego Co., Senlenas Canyon. L.M.K. 26818,
28873, 29272. 3389^J, 32044. 34016. 34289. 34380. 4725; tin- Xarrows.
28807. 313.^2. 31974, :>^MS. 33425: 1 K^ miles I-., of the- Xarrows.
32946; Yaqui Well. 526. 2644-6. 31449. 32985: San l-elipe \'alley.
4075-6. 4374. 33722; 2j/j miles \\. of the Scissors. 33219; one specimen
28834 labeled San Diego; Rorego Rd. at R.orego Palms Rd.. A.AI.
(>4382 ; lunporial Co.. a si)ecimen colk-oted at I'rink Springs and re-
ported by L. ]\1. KlaubcT (1938) is considered as lielonging to this
subspecies.

Rklationshii' and \ ariatio.v : Ihe subs])ecies descriicola is a
desert form, which has apparentK' developed from those ocln'oriiynclnis
to the south and southwest of its rnagr. Certain degrees of inter-
gradation are noticeable in si)ecimens on both sides of the Pacific Coast
and Creat I'.asin di\i(k-, this is also true east of the C'olorado River in
Arizona, where specimens exhibit relativelv high \entral and caudal
counts, a few also exhil)it similar color i)atterns. ( )f the ty])ical sj)eci-
niens. the lowest vmtral-caudal total found in o. clcscrtiniUi etiual 229
scutes, yet a specinu-n Xo. C.C". 2C)()59 from L'edar Canyon, Providence
Mts. San Piornidino C"o., has but 225 scutes, a condition typical in
o. orlirorhyiiilius. '\\\v color pattern is t\pical to (L'St'rlicDlu. The
interiirades alonsj ;ind west of the C Olor.uld |\i\ci- Irnd to show ;i re-

The Great Basin Naturalist

62 \\ii,iMKk w . taxxi:k \'o1. V, Nos. 3 & 4

(luced ventral-caudal count while those in Arizona produce a slight
increase. The Arizona forms do not produce the same color pattern.
Of special interest are three specimens from Grand Canyon National
Park, one male specimen is very typical of deserticola with 194 ven-
trals and 61 caudals and with a large medial nape spot while two others,
both females, have 181. 178 ventrals and 42, 42 caudals respectively.
In both specimens the medial nape spot is as long but much narrower.
\\'hether intergradation occurs between deserticola and venusta wdll
have to await further collecting on the northeast coast of low'er Cali-
fornia.

It is interesting to note that the three northern forms of the genus.
0. niichalatus, o. deserticola, and o. lorealiis, produce the highest ventral
and ventral-caudal counts in the genus. This cannot be explained by
referring to them as desert forms because nuchalatus inhabits a rela-
tively moist area. As it now stands the ventral counts increase on a
south to north axis, but with a slightly greater increase in desert areas.

Remarks : The average lengths of specimens within the various
groups have proved of great interest, especially since certain groups
are represented bv enough specimens to provide a fair basis for com-
parison.

Largest
Specimen

Average

Smallest

No. of
.'specimens

o. deserticola

642

329.41

166

104

o. klauberi

395

274.58

154

114

o. ochrorhynchus

from Arizona and v'^onora

.^03

336.9

173

68

0. texana

486

289.5

154

29 •

o. lorealus

502

364

212

9

o. venusta

363-95

311-76

220-62

9

For further comparisons of variations see table 2.

The food habits of this subspecies are known to consist of Uta,
Amphibia, and since other related groups have eaten other small lizards
it is surmised the small lizards in any area provide a share of the food.
A large specimen collected in the foot hills west of the old Aleseda
bench, Ut. County, was placed in the same collecting bag wdth a Uta. S.
stansburiana. A short time later the lizard was in the process of being
eaten ; ten minutes later the lizard had been eaten. A tew hours later
it was regurgitated undigested. Hardy. 1939. had similar experiences
with lorealus, but was also able to stimulate feeding on small lizards,
Uta and Scelopems. A large specimen collected by Dr. A'. M. Tanner

J >CC. 29, 1944 A TAXONOMIC STUDY (»1 1 1 Yl'SlGLKN A 63

in Zioii Canyon National Park had just eaten a medium-sized Hyla
areniculor Cope. The specimen was found under a log about five
o'clock P. M. A specimen collected in the same park at a later date
had eaten a toad. ( )bservati()n of this sub-species in captivity show it
to be a very nervous, restless snake, not easily adaptable to the average
conditions imposed upon it in captivity.

HYPSTr,I.].:XA ()( lIROKinXCHUS LOREAT.US \V. Tanner, siibsp. nov.

I'l. II, Figs. 1 and 8

Dkscrh'Tion' of the Tyfk
Head

The heatl is topical to ochrorhynclius, moderate in size, distinct
from the body, and minutely convex between the orbits and across the
parietals. The diameter of the orbit (1.9j is equal to (jne half tlie
interorbital space (3.8).

ScuTELLATiON : Rostral as seen from abt)ve U.9 mm., which is
less than one-half of tlie distance (2.4) from the rostral to the frontal.
Other dorsal head plates are normal for the species. Nasals normal ;
two loreals on the right side, the extra scute is developed from the
upper edges of the 3rd and 4th labials, and is only slightly smaller than
the normal scale; four loreals on the left side, the two lower anterior
scales are derived from the labials while the posterior one appears to
have been a result of a division of the lower preocular ; preoculars 2-2 ;
labials eight on the left side with nine on the right, the third labial is
divided to produce the extra labial; postoculars 2-2; temporals 1-3-3
left side, 2-3-3 right side. Infralabials 10-10; posterior genials larger
and with 7 gulars between the ixjsterior genial and the first ventral.

Coloration : The dorsal ])lates spotted and. or mottled : ])r()ducing
a brownish gray cohjr ; a dark brown strip extends from the orbit back
beyond the angle of the mouth where it C(»ntacts the lateral nuchal spot;
medial nai)e sp(jt 9 scales long and cS scale rows wide at its greatest
width, anterior portion narrow. 1-}) rows wide, medial spot sejiarated
from the laterals by a very distinct narrow light strip.

P)ODY AND TaIT.

SciTTELLATioN : Dorsal scales in 21 -21-19-17-1 5 rows: the lirst re-
duction occurs at the 112lh \entral by a fusion of the 4th and 5th rows,
the second occurs at the 133rd ventral with the 3r(l and 4lh nnvs unit-
ing; the third reduction occurs when the same rows again fuse at the

The Great Basin Naturalise

64 w ii.Mi-.K w . 'rANiXi'-K Vol. V, Nos. ?> & 4

l()8tli vc'iUral. \'cmr;ils 1S7 ; caudals 5Z. three scales l)ey()n(l the vent,
6 scutes are united.

Coi.okA riDN : The dorsal color is lij^ht gray with a series of 71
medium to small dorsal spots extendinj^' from the nape to above the
vent. Kach spot extends from the 8th, across the dorsum to the 14th
row, and involves 7-14 scales, 7 if the spot is divided, near 14 if com-
plete ; each spot is one to as much as one and a half scales lonj^. The
interveninsj;^ spaces F)et\\een tlie spots, lij^diter than any other dt^rsal
areas and 1 !._'-2j/4 scales lonj^;- ; lateral spots in three alternating rows,
small, distinct I)ut with reduced pigmentation: between the large dorsal
spots and the first lateral row there is at least one row of scales sepa-
rating the two rows of spots; tail without distinct spotting; ventrals
and caudals immaculate.

Dkxtition : Eight subequal antericjr superior maxillary teeth, fol-
lowed bv one large ungrooved fang-like tooth.

Diagnosis: A subspecies of oclirorhynchus closely related to des-
crticola in that it has a similar color pattern and a high ventral and
caudal scale count. Distinct from all ochrorhynchns in having two
large loreals on each side.

Type: An adult female B.Y.U. No. 2829 collected at the west edge
of Castle Dale. Emery County. Utah, June 17. 1939 by Dr. Vasco M.
Tanner.

There are six paratype specimens with the following data: Emery
Co., 5 miles south of Castle Dale near the main road, B.Y.U. 2192.
Carbon Co., collected in and near Price, A.H. 1075-6 and 1143, Co-
lumbia 946; Grand Co., La Sal, M.M.Z. 68595.

Other Material: Two specimens collected at Mesa Verda Na-
tional Park, Colorado.

Variation.s and Relationships: lorcaliis represents an olifshoot
of the more abundant and widespread Great Basin form, descrticulu.
Except for the increase in loreals the scale counts are similar. In coUjr
pattern the median nape spot is slightly wider and is united on one or
both sides in a few specimens; the spots are smaller and the spaces
between the spots are equal to or greater than the length of the pre-
ceding spot. The other subspecies vary widely, not only in color pat-
tern but also in ventral and caudal counts.

Remarks : The type specimen was gravid at the time of collecting.
Three eggs were felt soon after she was collected. The specimen was
placed in a separate bag and placed in the car, in spite of careful han-
dling, three eggs and nine shells were produced before we returned to
camp. Two eggs Avere fully distended while the third was soft and

Dec. 2'^, 1944 A lA.xoNo.vric study ok ii vi'si(;ij:na 65

not riitirrly filled; llic ') >Ik'11s a]>|H'ai\-(l iKninal and wcvc foldefl to-
s^itluT ill a clustri". It srcius (|uitt.' uiilik(.-l\ ihal llie sj)ccinK'n was iii-
juiX'il cilluT in collrcliiiii or duriiiL; oui" travels, 'i'lie three eoni])lele
cgys were |)laced on moist warm sand tor over a month : the c^^s were
then opened, none showed any sij^n of develoj)ment.

The double loreal in /orcaliix is a result of the lahials cutting olf a
scale near!}- as larije as the normal scute, this is not true in otiier speci-
mens of the i;enus where two scutes are ])roduced, in these few speci-
mens the extra loreal usually a])pears wedsj^ed between the larj^er loreal,
preoculars and one or two labials. In sucli cases it is difficult to teil
the origin of the extra scute, as it niiylit liave come from a corner of
either of the adjoining" scales.

HYPSIGLE\'.\ O XUCHALATUS W. Tanner, PI. III. Fig. 2

Hvpsiglena ochrorhjaichus cxzhrorhynchus \'an Denburgh, The Reptiles of
West X. America, Vol. 1 1. Snakes and Turtles, p. 783, Nov. 23. 19Z2.

Leptodeira torquata ochrorhynclius Klauber. The Subspecies of the spotted
Xight Snake. Copeia, No. 4, p. 192, 1938; Fitch, Leptodeira in Northern Cali-
fornia, Herpetologica Vol. I No. 6, pp. 152-53, 1939.

Hvpsiglena nuchalatus Tanner, Two New species of Hypsiglena from West-
ern North .Vmerica, Great Basin Naturalist, Vol. IV. Nos. 1 & 2, pp. 53-54, June
30, 1943.

Hypsiglena t. nuchalatus Bogert and Oliver, Amcr. Mus. Xat. Hist. \'o\. 83,
art 6, 1945, pp. 378-81.

(JKNERAL Description

Head

Size and Pkoportioxs : The head is elongated, the width reprc;-
senting 49-61% of the length. Type, head length 9.6 width 5.5, per
cent of width to length S7.?>, rostral .9, rostral to frontal 1.8, diameter
of orbit 1.6, interorbital space 3.2 mm. The to]) of the head is llat-
tened, the snout is rounded, and the temi)oral regions are enlarged
enough to make the head distinct from the body. Rostral as seen from
above less than 60 per cent of the distance from the rostral to the
l"r(»ntal; length of eye equal t(t (»r greater than half the interorbital
space in 81% of the specimens studied.

ScuTELLATlON : The rostral scale is moderate to large and pro-
truding well beyond the mental scute, giving an appearance of elonga-
tion. The dorsal cephalic plates are normal. .Vasal divided (rarely
single), twice as long as wide and with the nostril located very near
the center but slightly nearer the internasal than the labial. The loreal
is moderate much longer than high, and not in contact with the lower
preocular. Two preoculars the upper one much the larger; eye mod-

The Great Basin Naturalist
66 WILMER VV. TANNER Vol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

erate, its diameter equal to the leiij^th (jf the nasal scale or slightly
larger. Two subequal postoculars the upper scale at least twice the
larger. Temporals 1-2-3. Tlie ui)per labials are normally 7-7 , but
occasionally 8-8. the 3-4 enter the orbit and the first tends to wedge
between the nasal and the second labial, to contact the loreal in many
specimens. The mental is elongate often dividing the first pair of
lower labials, which otherwise make contact on the mid-ventral line.
The lower labials are 10-10. There are tw^o pair of equal or subequal
genials.

Coloration : The cephalic plates are brown, with a few dark
spots on the frontal and the parietals. Posterior to the parietals is a
large irregular blotch which extends entirely across the nape to the
2nd or 3rd lateral scale row, and is 4-6 scales across at the median.
The lateral edges of the blotch extend anteriorly to form a narrow
stripe to the f)rl)it. The labials are margined with dark spots, and the
genials and gulars are finely flecked.

Body and Tail

Size and Proportion : The body is slender and elongate, with
but little tapering before the vent. The tail is short to medium in
length and rapidly tapered to the end.

ScuTELLATioN : The dorsal scales are smooth, except for a few
rows about the vent, and in 19-19-17-15, longitudinal rows, a few with
21 rows on the anterior of the body, (see key). The reduction to 17
scales occurs between the 104th and 145th ventral with the uniting of
the 4-5th rows, the reduction continuing to 15 rows between the 147th
and the 190th ventral by combining the 3-4 or, more rarely, the 2-3
dorsal rows. The ventrals range from 179-201 and the caudals vary
from 40-53.

Coloration : The upper surface is brownish-gray and with a
series of large spots extending from the nape to the tip of the tail,
each spot extends across the body from the 7th to the 13th scale row
and is 2-3 scales long, separated by a light bar 1-2 scales across. Lateral
to the median spots and alternating with them and each other, are
two rarely three row^s of smaller spots, located along the 2-3 and the
4-6 scale rows. Under parts white.

Diagnosis : A sub-species characterized by having a dark nuchal
band, and a narrow head. The orbit is equal to or greater than half
the interorbital space, rarely less ; dorsal scale formula normally 19-
19-17-15 ; supralabials 7-7 ; body and tail spots distinct. Ventral count
high. 179-201.

J)ec. 29, 1944 ataxonomic m i I)\ oi mi>siGLF,NA 67

Rangk : The wesicni slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains from
Tulare Count) in the south to Tehama County in the north. The
following material was used in this study :

California: Tulare Co., Lemon Cove, B.Y.U. 3008; Sequoia Nat.
Park, U.C. 19328-30 and 19207; VisaHa, L.iM.K. 20233, 20293 and
22501 ; Madera Co., near ( )neals, L'.C. 27487; Contra Coasta Co., hiU
near Christy, U. C. 2476; 4 miles S.l'.. of Mt. l)ial)l.), U.C. 28202 and
C.A.S. 30876, no data; Alameda Co., Mission Park, U.C. 20505; Mt.
Diablo. S.U. 8070; I'.utte Co., OroviUe, U. C. 24118; Tahama Co.,
Paynes Creek, U.C. 20486.

Rki-ationshii' and Variations: This group represents an off-
shoot from those forms to the south and east of it. It undoubtedly
inlergrades with klaithcri in Kern Co., and is undoubtedly a subspecies
of the ochrorhynchus groups. Two specimens from Kern Co., re-
ported to me by Mr. George H. Halney tend to confirm this belief.

HYPSIGLENA O. VENUSTA Mocquard. PI. Ill, Fig. 7

Hypsiglena venusta Mocquard, Arch. Mus. Paris, ser. 4, Vol. 1, 1899. p. 3Z7
(type locality, Santa Rosalia and San Iqnacio, Lower California, Mexico.)

Leptodeira torquata venusta Dunn, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., Vol. 22, 1936, pp.
694-695.

Leptodeira torquata ochrorhynclius Klaubcr, Copeia, No. 4, 1938, pp. 192-193;
P.ogert and Oliver, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Vol. 83, art 6, 1945, pp. 378-81.

Hypsiglena ochrorhvnclius Taylor, Univ. Kansas, Sci. Bull., \'o] 25. 1938
(1939), pp. 357-83, 1 fig.' 4 pis.

Hypsiglena ochrorhvnchus ochrorhynchus Smith and Tavlor, U. S. Nat. Mus.
Hull. 187, 1945, pp. 72-74.

General Description

Instead of a redescription of this subspecies it has been deemed
desirable to restate Mocquard's description in an i'.nglish translation.

"Six specimens of Hypsij-'lena, five of which were captured at Santa Rosalia
and a sixth at San Tgnacio. have an appearance very different to the preceding
(ochrorliyncluis).

"'I'Ik- dorsal spots are nuich more numerous and smaller, tliey are of a rather
pale brown on an ash background, and are sometimes bathed in rose ; opposite
or alternating and as long as the length and one half of a scale, they occupy at
the most the width of 2-3 scales and are in two longitudinal series, rather regu-
larly spaced. Besides these dorsal spots there are three otlier longitudinal rows
of lateral spots smaller, stippled, and of the same shade and alternating generally
with the preceding row. These lateral spots are ordinarily situated between the
6-7, 3-4 and the 1-2 rows of dorsal scales. Each series contains about 80 spots
and they extend from the nape to the beginning of the tail. In one of the speci-
mens, and only for a distance of 5-6 cm., the spots (dorsal) of each side join
those of the other to form transversal (cross) bands.

"The dorsal part of the head is finely stippled with dark brown. On the nape

The Great Basin Naturalist
68 WILMEK \V. TANiXKK Vol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

inay he observed tlie same tliree large spots that are iDuiul in H. uclirorliynchus,
hut they are black, and the lateral ones extend forward to the nasal, being inter-
rupted at the level of the eye. These lateral spots join with the median spot in
one specimen. The ventral side is grayish white, it is the same for the lips and
throat which are stippled with brown, with a little brown spot more or less dis-
tinct on the sutiu"es which separate the first 5-6 supralabials.

"Our six specimens are all provided wnth a small pseudo-preocular. There
are eight supra-labials (9 by exception) ; a series of 21 scale rows, very finely
striated (1) and provided with one apical ])it. The number of gastrosteges varies
from 178 to 186; that of the urosteges from 47 to 58, two of these last plates are
single in one specimen ; there are six of them in another. The rest of the speci-
mens are the same as in H. ochrorhynchus.

"The longest has a total length of 340 mm. of which the tail is 55 mm., almost
a sixth of the total length.

"These specimens can't be related U) H. oclirurhyiichiis, from which they differ
by having a greater number of gastrosteges (178-186 instead of 157-178), by a
shorter superior ocular, by the coloration and a more slender form.

"We would not hesitate to identify them with H. chloropliaca if Stejneger
did not inform us that the individual type of this species lacks the psudo-preoculars,
the type that we have just described could not be compared to it and we would
propose to give it the name of H. vcnusfa.

"(1) These strieas which have not yet been pointed out in //. ochrorhy)ichus,
are observed as well in H. affinis. We conclude from it that striation of these
dorsal scales is found also in other species of this genus and that it constitutes
a generic characteristic."

Diagnosis : A form closely related to dcscriicola, but diiitering in
that there are fewer ventrals, 174-190, at least a lower average, more
than in klauberi or ochrorhynchus, more dorsal spots (up to 95) than
in any other form, and with the dorsal spots dividing to produce two
rows instead of one. Thus the spots are said to be "opposite or alter-
nating."

Range : From Santa Rosalie south to Loredo including the ad-
joining coastal island, and extending inland to the mountains, but
apparently not extending to the west side of the central range. The
following material was used in this study: San Ignacio, L.M.K. 3817
and U.C. 13775; Camondu, U.C. 13774, and F.M. 25866; trail between
Loredo and Comando, U.S.N.M. 67378-9; Carman Island, C.A.S. 51814
and M.C.Z. 31583; San Marcas Island, C.A.S. 51462.

Remarks: This subspecies is related to o. ochrorhynchus and
0. deserticola. The extent of its variation is mainly in its unic|ue color
pattern. Small dorsal spots, which are greatly increased in number
(62-95, average 76) and also in the division of the medial row of spots
into two rows. Mocquard refers to this condition when he states that
they are "opposite or alternating." The specimens examined for this
report show this conditioii to a varying degree, some for the entire
length of the body, with others only half or two thirds of the body, but
all were characterized by it. A large specimen from Carmen Island has

I K'C. 2*>. 1''44 A TAXONOMIC STIM)N' Oi' inrS[(;i.KNA 69

L'xlcndrd the >ri)arali( m t(» llic nirdial iiapr s|)()t. 'Ilir laU'i'al luiciial
spots. a> siii^i^rslcil by Mocijuaid, do cxti'iid ihrouj^h tin- r\e lo tin-
nostril. Ill scutrllation zu'iiusta produces lii.n'h ventral and caudal counts
wlu'ii compared uitli d. iiclirnrhynrliits. This is inr)re apparent when
the ventral-caudal totals arc ronii)ared.

HVPSKiLKNA (). TORTUGAKNSIS \V. Taimor, suhsp. nov.
PI. II, Fifis. .^^ and 4

1 )i:s(, Kiriio.x oi- iiik 'I'viM'-.
Head

Size and Pkoportion.s ; The head is forty-one per cent longer
than wide, slightly convex between the orbits and not greatly swollen
at the temporal regions: eye large, its diameter e(|ual to or greater than
the interorbital space.

ScrTKLT.ATioN : Rostral normal, its length, as seen from above 1.2,
less than one half the distance (3.2 nun.) from the rostral to the fron-
tal ; other dcjrsal plates normal ; nasal plate divided and more than twice
as long as high, the posterior end is elongated and wedges part w'av
between the second labial and the loreal ; loreal moderate, triangle
shape and not in contact with the small lower preocular ; preoculars
2-2; eye normal, its diameter 2.4 mm. ; postoculars 2-2, subequal ; tem-
porals 1-2-3; supralabials 8-8; infralabials 10-10, the first pair sepa-
rated i)art w a\" bv a normal scute; two pair of genials, the anterior pair
larger, and with seven gulars between the genials and the first ventral.

Coloration : The head plates are brownish gray with a few^ small
spots which are principalK on the prefrontals; the parietals are not
distinctly spotted; extending from the scale inuiiediately posterior to
the parietals is an elongate dorsal blotch 13 scales long and increasing
in width from the anterior to near the middle, from 1-4 scales. The
dorsal blotch is sei)arate(l from two lateral l)lotches In' 1-1^ rows of
light colored scales; the lateral blotches are se))arated from the parietals
b\- four rows of light colored scales, which in turn are in contact with
the light line separating the nuchal blotches. The lateral blotches are
sei)arated by a light scale just posterior to the supralabials. the ante-
rior portion extends across the labials to the eye; the lal)ials and chin
scales are mottled and tlecked with lirown.

Dentation : There are six small teeth, two broken ofl', for a
total of eight anterior superior maxillary teeth followed by two large
fanglike teeth.

The Great Basin Naturalist
70 WILMKK W. TANNER Vol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

JiuDY AND Tail

Tho body is cyliiuirical and with a total len^lli of 452 mm. (jf which
the tail makes up 7o mm.

ScuTELLATiON : The dorsal scales are all smooth and in 21-21-19-
17 rows; the first reduction occurs by the fusion of the 4th and 5th
rows at the 129th ventral, the second reduction occurs bv a fusion of
the same rows at the 149th ventral ; there are 190 ventrals and 57 sub-
caudals, the anal plate is divided.

Coloration : The upper surface has the appearance of dark brown
with a series of dark dorsal spots extendinii^ from the nape region pos-
teriorly. The spots extend from the 8th to the 14th scale rows and
are 2-3 scales in length ; the scales in the spots are decked and streaked
with dark markings, but usually with a lighter area in the center.
Dorsal spots on body 63. on tail 15. the posterior half of tail mottled,
not distinctly spotted. Lateral to and alternating with the dorsal spots
is a row of smaller spots on the 5-7 rows ; a second lateral row of spots
opposite to the dorsal spots is found on the 3-4 rows, and a third lateral
row alternating with the dorsal spots is found on the 1-2 rows. The
ventrals and caudals are flecked with a large number of very small
brown spots, which are more numerous near the dorsals.

Type: California Academy of Sciences, No. 51460, collected at
Tortuga Island June 22, 1921, by Joseph R. Slevin.

Paratype: L.M.K. No. 4074, Tortuga Island.

Diagnosis: A subspecies of ochrorhynchus, with an elongate nar-
row medial nape spot and with the lateral spots divided just posterior
to the angle of the mouth. The ventrals are higher than in typical
ochrorhynchus ; in this respect tortugaensis is more nearly like veuusta
and deserticola. The high number of caudals distinguish it from all
other forms and the much higher ventral-caudal totals separate it from
any venusta or ochrorhynchus in lower California.

Distribution: Known only from Tortuga Island, T)aja California.

Remarks : The island Tortuga is located some twenty miles north-
east of Santa Rosalia, and is therefore directly opposite the area occu-
pied by venusta. A comparison of these two forms presides evidence
to support the belief that tortugaensis has been modified into its present
form from venusta stock. It seems unlikely that it could have origi-
nated directly from typical ochrorhynchus.

The caudal counts on the two female types (57 and 59) are much
higher than is found in any other form, except deserticola where one
female specimen out of a series of 42 shows S7 scutes, the next highest
is 54 and the average is 52 scutes. In view of the fact that caudal

I >cc. 2'^. 1^44 A rwoN'oMic sT^I>^■ of iivf'sici.f.na 71

counls in iiialc- s|nciiiuns is lii^lu-r than lliosc- of fi-iualcs it would not
1)C surprisin.u to tind tcrliKniciisis with thr hiiL;ht.-st caudal coinits for
the ,t,feinis.

UV}>Sl(;i.K\ A (). KI.Ari'.KRI \V. Tanrur. Mib. sp. nov.
( il- M- K W. 1 )l<( l^'ll'•n^^•
HEAD

Top of lu-ad sli.i^hih <;onvcx from eye to rostral; the space between
the nostrils only slij^htly less than one lialf tlic interorbital space.

ScUTEi.T.ATioN : Koslral hroad and rounded, its lenj^th less than
one half the distance from tlie rostral to the frontal; other dorsal head
plates normal ; nasal divided, loreal sinijle not touching the suhocular.
two ])reoculars: two postoculars ; temporals 1-2-3. Eight supralahials ;
ten infralibials, the first pair joined on the mid line beliind the ment.al
scute; posterior genials ec|ual to the anterior pair.

Coloration: The top of the head is uniforml_\- flecked with dark
pigment, there may l)e aggregates of chr(jmatophores. Imt there is no
definite pattern. A dark band passes jjosterior from tlie eye to and
slightly beyond tlie angle of the mouth where it terminates. A light
space 1-3 scales wide separates this band from the large lateral nape
spots. Three nuchal spots. The medial spot elongate, 5-11 scales long
and 2-7 scale rows wide: the anterior point usually 2-6 scales posterior
to the parietals. In some specimens this point reaches the parietals,
in others the point is re})resented 1)\- a dot immediately posterior to the
parietals, and in a ver}' few the medial s\n)\ is entirely absent. Lateral
l)lotclies large, dark and at times fused with the medial spot by a few
scales, rarely both sides ftise in the same speciiiien ; divided at or just
posterior to the angle of tlie moutli. I'nderside variously flecked and
with a dark bar extending across the antt'rior infralabials.

Body and Tail

ScuTELLATiON : Dorsal scales smooth and in 21-21-19-17 (\S)
rows. The reduction to 19 rows usually ocurs from the 100th ventral
to tlie 128lh. The second reduction is extriMiielx- \ariable and ranges
from the llSlh to 16()th ventral, when present the reduction to 15 rows
takes place beyond the 150th \ential. X'eiitials, males W)1-1S0; females
173-189; caudals, males 46-5() ; females 3''-4''.

Coloration: A series of 40-61, mecliuni to large dark brown spots
extends from the median ii.ape spot posterior to the i,iid of the tail;
each complete spot involves from 12 to IS scales and usually occupies

The Great Basin Naturalist
71 WILMKR W . TANNER Vol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

the 8th to the 14th dorsal rows. Each spot is lj/2 to 2j/2 scales lon^^
and are separated from each other by a light band at least one scale
in length. Two or three lateral rows of spots alternating with tlie
dor.sal row and with each other. First lateral row largest, third when
present smallest. Tail spots faint but usually distinct. Ventrals and
caudals cream color, rarel}' flecked.

Description of the Type: Head broad, the orbit less than one
half the interorbital space, snout blunt; neck heavy, not noticeably con-
stricted. Head plates normal for the species. Dorsal scales in 21-21-
19-17 longitudinal rows; the first reduction occurs at thell2 ventral
by combining the fifth and sixth rows, right side and 114th ventral
bv combining the fourth and fifth rows left side. The second reduc-
tion to 17 begins at the 140 ventral by combining the fourth and fifth
rows right side, and at the 142 ventral left side. There are 178 ven-
trals and 56 caudals. Total length 327 mm., tail length 6() mm., ratio
of tail to total length 18.35.

The color pattern is generally darker than for specimens found on
the main land. Head mottled above and witli considerable pigment in
all of the dorsal plates ; labials with a dark stripe extending from the
eye back to the eighth labial, it does not fuse with the lateral nape spot
as is customary in other forms of oclirorhynchus; other labials ma-"-
gined or spotted; gtnials and gulars finely flecked and spotted. Nape
with three spots, the median spot five scales long and seven rows wide,
this produces a nearly square spot. 3^/ scales posterior to the parietals ;
laterals slighth' fused to the median spot. Dorsal spots medium to
large, heavily pigmented and in a series of 47 spots to the vent, tail
with 25 sjiots ; lateral to the dorsal spots are two distinct rows of small
dark spots, scales not involved in the S])ots heavily pigmented.

Type; L.M.K. 20228 collected in .South Cornoado Island, lower
California on June 11, 1933 by Philip M. Klauber, son of Mr. L. M.
Klauber.

There are two paratype specimens, both are females. One specimen
S.U. 6678 has 180 ventrals, 44 caudals, 49 spots and has the nape spot
4y2 scales posterior to the parietals. The others pecimen, C.A.S. 13602,
has 177 ventrals, 45 caudals, 48 dorsal spots and with the median nape
spot 4 scales posterior to the parietals. Roth specimens have inter-
orbital spaces greater than twice the diameter of the orbit.

DiACiNosis: A sub-species of the ochrorhynchus group which var-
ies from other forms in having a median spot which is 3-5 scales pos-
terior t(; the parietals; the dark line extending posterior from the eye
rareh conlacts llie lateral nuchal blolch. nor does it extend anteriorlv

iKc. 2'*. l'M4 A r.\X(ix<)M ic sitdn' oi- ii vi-siclkna 7.^

I)f\()ii<l tlu' cNT : ihr «.'\T is mdili'i.'itr. lis diaiin'tci kss than ' _. the iii-
liT(irl)itaI spacf.

( )thi'r material examiiK-d is as follows: California: Los Ani^a-lc.s
Co.. Los An^vK's. C".M. 16793-4. I'alos Wrdc Instates. L.M.K. 28559.
I'almdaK-. L.M.K. 2()43S. .Mi. Wilson. L.C. 4Sf,4. Wc-si Los Angeles.
.A.M. ()43cS.-> ; .Sail r.crnardiiio Cd.. aliont SH miles I'., of Los .Angeles.
CM\L 16796. Morongo \ allr\ , L.M.K. 2<s7.V^ .San lUrnardmo Mts.
near .Santa .Anna Kixer. L.C. 0,V'. Two miles east of Stvawberr}-
Leak, U.C. 13107. Ilesprria. C.A.S. 3f,2N4 and Strawberry Valley.
S.U. 4015; Kern L"o.. Lemon. L..M.K. <S792 ; ( )range Co., San Clemente.
L.M.K. 1038: Riverside Co.. I'.anning. L'.S.X.M. 75176; San Diego
Co.. San Diego. L.M.K. 1263. 30480. 24274. 28310, 4605. 30450, 6630.
33324, 32457. 32836. 233. 24213. 3210. 28331. 3150, 1498. 22714,
28337, 28309. 1202. 2922. 33758-9; CM. 16795; C.A.S. 64482-3; M.
C.Z. 20475; Santa ^'sal.el. L..M.K. 4883, I,a Jolla. L.M.K. 5286 and
.H193. Solana Reach, L.M.K. 1040. I'.ox Canyon. L.M.K. 25697. Carls-
had, L.M.K. 26737, Alpine. L.M.K. 23162' 33426 and U.C. 27024.
Lemon Grove. L.M.K. 23185. 20(X)7, Lose Canyon. L.M.K. 3138. En-
canto. L.M.K. 1172. Morena Dam. L.M.K. 20295. Desconso, L.M.K.
3.VS5, Mussey, L.M.K. ZVx I'alomar. L.M.K. 22406, Santa Fe Ranch.
L.M.K, 905, 1659. Januil, L..M.K. 4337. Otay T)^m. L.M.K, 27116-8,
Rainbow, L,M.K. 28681. Dear Horn Flats, L.M.K. 31333. 571, Viejas,
F.M,8439, Witch Creek, C.S.X.M. 2482, San Jacinto, S.L. 4016, 4014,
Eagle Peak Grade, L.M.K. Z]Z7^. Mission \ alle\ . L.M.K. 9910, San
Lasqual, L.ALK. 101, Challas Heights Radio, L.M.K. 2.^8. Boulder
l\'irk, L.M.K. IMK). Romona. L.M.K. 31215. 8505. half way between
Komona and Halleiia. L.M.K. 995(). l-:sconidido. L.M.K. 5031, M.M.Z.
70.^77. Sun (^resi, L.M.K. 22141. h'.l Capitan, L..M.K. 21271-2. Radio
road 1-.. San Diego, L..M.K. 1170. lacumba, L.M.K. 171, La Mesa,
L,M.K. ,U50, Spring \alley. L.M.K. 4975, I'.ird Rock, L.M.K. 527,
Wynola, L.M.K. 9955; three specimens, L'.S.X,M, 22S79, C.A.S. 64441
and 64434 are listed for the county with no locality data.

Bajo California; Descanso Point. L.M.K. 2582. San Pedro Martir
Mts., L.M.K. 9933. San Pedro near Laguna Ilanse. L..M.K. 10415-f).
Cerros Islands. U.S.N. M. 59371.

Variations and Relationshii's : A single male specimen S.U.
8071 listed from the .San Diego Cil\- Dump has 1S5 \entrals and 60
caudals, 9 UKjre scales than is found in an\ other specimen studied
from the Pacihc side; tlu- supialabials ;iie ''-9, infralabials 10-11.
( )ther characters are normal. .\ male specimen .M.M.Z. 7i).>77 col-
Kctrd ;it h.scondido has onl\ 1()1 \entrals and 4(> cauilals. both counts

The Great Basin Naturalist

74 wir.Mi-.R w . TANNKR Vol. V, Nos. 3 & 4

are the lowest for the new sul)species. A female specimen L.M.K.
9933 collected in the San Pedro Martir. Mts. Rajo, California, is vari-
able to other klauhcri in the follow inj^^ characters. 23 dorsal rows from
the 47th to the 80th ventral, but with 15 rows at the vent; 7-7 supra-
lal)ials ; and with a distinct light cream band 4 scales across at the
dorsum, followed by a dark l>and which extends down to the 3rd scale
row and 3 scales across. The dark stripe from the eye is divided,
from the anterior portion of the dark l)and. at the angle of the mouth.
One male specimen L.M.K. 34193 also has 7-7 supralabials and 9-9
infralal)ials. A few specimens liave 7-^ labials, in other forms as well
as klauberi but only two other orhror/iyiiclius produces 23 dorsal rows,
A.M. 15068 shows a very irregular number of rows all the way alone
with 19 at the vent. M.C.Z. 43273 produces 23 rows from the 52nd
to the 100th ventral and is uniform, that is, there are 21-23-21-19-17
rows. Twenty-three dorsal rows are not normal for any Hypsiglena
unless slevini proves to be the exception. The double nape band is not
encountered in any other ochrorhyiirhus except in two specimens from
southern Sonora.

Specimens from the type locality are much darker in color than
mainland specimens, in other respect the color pattern is similar and
serves to readily distinguish this subspecies from all other forms. Fig.
plate and photograph b}- C. B. Perkins, 1938, p. 44 clearl}- shows the
divided lateral spot at the angle of the mouth, (see table 2). Klauberi
is known to intergrade, in the north with mtcJialatits, in the east with
descrficola. Its relationship to Tcintsla and ochrorJiyiichiis at Cape San
Lucus. are listed in the sumni;ir\- for the species.

HYP.STGI.ENA O. UNAOCUT.ARUS Tanner, sp. ndv., PI. ITI, Figs. 4 and 8

Descrittion
Head

Size and Proportion : The head is 43.3 per cent longer than wide,
distinct from the body but not prominently so, flattened between the
orbits and posterior, slightly convex over the internasals and pre-
frontals, and rapidly tapering to the broadly rounded snout.

ScuTELLATioN : Rostral as seen from above 1.1 mm.; rostral to
frontal 3.1 mm.; internasals moderate and tending toward squareness,
wider posteriorly ; pre-f rontals large, wider than long ; other cephalic
plates normal. Nasal scute divided at the nostril which is located
nearer the internasal than the labial and divides the nasal scute near
the middle, posterior part wedging ])arl way between the loreal and the

|)ci-. 2*>, l'H4 A TAXONOMJC STUDY Ol-' 1 1 N I'SKM.KN A 75

Sfcoiiil labial. AiUnior lorc-al lar^c, iiolict-'ably loii^T ihaii liii^li : a
small sub-loical ai ihc lower postfiior (.(jnicr of the larye seiile, C(j:i-
tacts the 2n(l and 3i"(l labials and both preoculars ; two sube<.|ual pre-
oculars. the dorsal scute many times larger. Kyt moderate to large,
its diameter Z.5 mm.; greater than one half the interorbital space;
postocular a single scute; temporals l-2-o, the anterior largest and in
conlacl with llie ?[h. Oth, and "ill su|)ialabials ; supralabials 8-8. 4tii
and 5th entei- the (jrbit and the Olh is the largest; infralabials 10-10,
the liisi pair is partly divided b}' the mental, and the 6th is the largest;
genials in two pair the posterior ones ntjt ccjmpletely divided and
larger; eight gulars between the posterior genials and the 1st ventral,
seven gulars l)etween the 10th labial and the midventral line.

Dentation : There are 8 subequal superior premaxillar\- teeth
followed after an interspace b\- one large smooth fang-like tooth.

Coloration : Cephalic plates with a light gray background llecked
with innumerable brown spots oi variable size and shape to produce
a brown color. Supralabials with fewer and liner llecks below and in
front i)i the orbit. The posterior four are marked with a tlark bar
that extends to the lateral nuchal blotch which is small and much less
noticeable than in cither forms. The medial nuchal blotch is elongate,
extending from the second scale posterior to the parietals back for a
distance of 8 scales graduall\- widening until it reaches a width of 7
rows at the posteric^r. Infralabials, genials and gulars with fine tleck-
ing (jver a cream background, except for a small narrow bar which
extends from the mental back across the first four labials.

Dentition : There are 8 subequal anterior superior premaxillary
teeth followed after a short distema b}' 1 large smooth fang-like tooth.

Body and Tail

Size and Proportion : The body is subcylindrical, and apparently
long and slender. (Specimen in a poor state of preservation a short
distance baci< of head and almost to tail.) Total length 480 mm. Tail
95 nun. (several nniL of tip missing I ; ratio tail to total length 19.9%.

ScuTF.LLATioN : Dorsal scales smooth except for a few scales above
the vent which are weakly keeled, one apical pit, and in 21-21-19-17-15
longitudinal I'ow s. I'eclucing to 1'' vows at the 124th ventral.. There are
184 ventrals and 59 subcaudals present, several not accounted for since
the tip of the tail is missing.

Coloration : A median series of larger dark brown spots and three
lateral series of smaller spots extend from the nape region poseriorly,
producing a brownish spotted ground color; dorsal spots 68, tail with

The Great Basin Naturalist
76 WII.MKK W . TANNKK Vol. V, Nos. 3 & 4

few splits and a nuji'c t^ra}ish cijlor. median spots 2-2)/2 scales long,
extending across the back from the 8-15 scale rows (some divided)
of dorsal spots involving 15-16 scales. Scales between the spots colored
the same as the scales lateral to the spots, that is very finely flecked.
First lateral row on the 5-7 rows and involving 4-5 scales ; the 2nd and
3rd lateral rows are found on the 3-4, 1-2 rows respectively, and in-
volve usually less than 3 scales ; ventrals cream to white colored and
with the lateral edges finely flecked, caudals the same except that some
scutes may have medial flecking.

Type; American Museum of Natural History No. 62756, an adult
male from Clarion Island, the most southwestern of the Revilla Gigedo
Island Group. Mexico.

Diagnosis: Like o. ochroriiyiichiis in scutellation except for a siti-
gle postocular and two loreal scales, and with an apparently higher
number of ventral and caudal scutes. Tail long 19.9/^ of total length,
and with the scales between the dorsal spots the same color as those
scales lateral to the spots, not lighter as in other forms.

Remarks: Out of over 400 specimens studied to date nine speci-
mens exhibit a single postocular scute and seven of these produce this
condition on only one side. It is noteworthy, however, to find that it
occurs mainly in specimens from -San Diego Co. California and from
specimens taken in parts of Utah. In a few specimens the postoculars
show 3 scales but in 98% of the continental (including near-by islands)
specimens there are 2 postocular scales. The paired loreal scutes are
equally rare in all forms, except for lorealus in which two scutes are
normal. Of equal interest is the 2-3 preocular count a variation very
rarely encountered in other forms. ( )n the basis oi these head scale
variations and the fact that the color between the spots is heavily pig-
mented plus the geographical isolation, seems to warrant the giving of
this form a new name.

It will not be surprising to find this form producing a high ventral
and caudal count as well as a longer tail in proportion to the body
when and if a series can be collected.

SUA'IMARY OF THE OCHRORHYNCHUS GROUP

It is evident in the subspecies of oclirorJiy}icJuis that janii repre-
sents the most primitive form, and that from it a line of continuous
evolution seems to have proceeded to texana and oclirorhynchus (Ari-
zona), from which all other subspecies were directly or indirectly de-
rived.

Dec. 29, 1944 a TAXf)N()Mic study ok ini'sici.KNA 77

lUKluilatus klauhcri uiiaocularus

clescrticola ochroihyiichus

veiuista lorcalus texaiia

tortugaensis janii

A comparison of /(/;//; with lcxai\a shows; ( 1 I A close rclalionslup
ill miiiihcrs of \ciilrals and caiulals. (2) A simihirity in thf aniouiU
of pij^nicntation, both arc dark heavily pii^mcntcd forms. (3) The
spots are of the same size and are separated usually by less than one
scale. (4 I The dorsals are in 21-19-17 rows in both fonn>. The evolv-
ment of Uwdiia from jaitii can be seen from {I ) the three nape spots
in fcxaini in contrast to the extensive dark blotch of janii; (2) tcxami
produces a constant number of labials (see table 2). The ranges of
the two are in ccjntact in Mexico, with the intergrades producing an
intermediate nape pattern.

That o. ochrorhynchus is a derivitive of janii is seen from the fol-
lowing relationshii)s. ( 1 ) forty per cent of the Arizona specimens have
a narrow na|)e blotcli. (2) Considerable overlapping in tlie caudals.
(3) While no intergrades are available it appears that the range of
each form is in contact witli each other. (4) Eighty-two per cent o\
0. oclirorliyiiclius have fused lateral spots.

A much wider variation is readily seen l)etween these two forms,
that is in evidence between janii and tc.rana. In scalation ochror-
hynchus produces ( 1 ) an average of 13 more ventrals and rarely over-
laps janii. (2) A much higher ventral caudal total. (3) Only 29 per-
cent of its iJoi)u]ation retain 17 dorsal rows at the vent, janii produces
17 rows regularly. (4) More and smaller dorsal spots. IJesides these
it should l)e noted that the caudals average higher in ochrorhynchus
and there are also a few (22.58 per cent) specimens whose total ven-
tral caudal count exceeds 234 scutes. The amount of pigmentation is
noticeably reduced in ochrorhynchus. and the distance between the
dorsal spots is usually twice as great in ochrorhynchus as in janii.

In s])ite (tt all these ditierences it set'ins (|uUe improbal»le that am'
other form could have given rise to ochr(>rhynchus, especially those
from the Ariz(jna-AIexico area. Tcxana has produced intergradation
with tichr(0-hynchus in Xew Mexico and the big bend area i>{ Texas,
but the main evolutionary trends appear to have come from a north-
south dispersion. The steady increase in the numbers of ventrals,

The Great Basin Naturalist
78 WlLMEk W. TANNER Vol. \', Nos. 3 & 4

caudals, and dorsal spots is from janii through ochrorhynchus to
dcscrticula. The reverse of this is true in the amount of pigment ;
the per cent of specimens producing a single nape band and in the
per cent of specimens producing 17 dorsal rows at the vent (see table
2). If texana has effected the development of ochrorhynchus it must
surely have been secondary. Texana is either of recent origin or the
processes of variation have proceeded more slowly than is evident in
other forms.

The method and routes of dispersion used by this species through-
out western United States and Bajo California cannot be accurately
interpreted at this time, especially for parts of Baja California. Speci-
mens west and north of the Colorado river {dcscrticola) have devel-
oped (1) higher ventral and caudal counts (2) a ventral caudal total
generally above 235 scutes (3) a characteristic medial nape spot and
(4) few specimens with 17 dorsal rows at the vent. The relationship
of ochrorhynchus and deserticola are seen in (1) the same degree of
pigmentation (2) the same number and size of dorsal spots with
deserticola averaging a few more. (3) Intergradation in the ventrals
and caudals and (4) the contact of the ranges of both forms. Speci-
mens throughout the entire great basin area show a remarkable uni-
formity in both scalation and color pattern. The fluctuations found
in specimens from various parts of this vast area are very slight,
specimens from Washington County, Utah produce the highest num-
ber of ventrals and caudals of any form, specimens from eastern San
Diego County are light colored while Mona and Inyo County, Cali-
fornia produce fewer caudals. The effects of geographical isolation
are clearly seen in specimens from the Colorado river area of Utah.
These specimens {lorealus) are quite the same as deserticola except
for the double loreal. No doubt this forni is an off shoot of those
specimens now found in Washington County, Utah ; they have iden-
tical scalation, except for the loreal, and also a near identical color-
pattern.

The sub-species deserticola not only gave rise to lorealus but is also
very closely related to venusta. This relationship is seen from, (1)
the overlapping of the ventrals and caudals. (2) a great number of
dorsal spots (3) a ccnnplete lateral nape spot and (4) a few specimens
of venusta have a similar median nape spot. They vary in that venusta
has (1) a greater average number of dorsal spots (2) smaller dorsal
spots (3) more pigment in the nape spots (4) a division of the dorsal
spots to form two separate rows. The latter character has carried
into the medial nape spot where it produces a division in a few speci-

Doc. 20, 1044 A PAxoNOMif sT^D^ (H- ii>'I'sk;i.f.na 70

mens ( Carni.ui Island i. / i'linsUi piddiuxs a lateral iia|)C spot that
extends throui^di tlic eye in the nostril a t'aetor not common to any
other j^roup. Just where tliese two (K-si-rl lonns interi;rade, it' at all.
is not known. T\'t\\een them, as w i- now ]<now tliem, extends a thou-
sand mile strip of desert roast I'loni .'"^anla Rosalia, lower California,
north to eastern San l)ie,^o ai'd l-'.niptrial L'ounties. California, from
whieli 1 liax'C seen no specimens.

'r(>rfiiiiiiciisis is related to (Icscrlii-dla lhrou,y'li I'diitstd. Tortiigaen-
sis and 7'ciiiisUi .are \ irlu.alK .alike in I 1 ) numher of veutrals (2) num-
ber of dorsal s])ots i ,^ i extent .and size of l.ater.al nape spots. The
first two characters are ver\' important in th.at all three forms overlap
these factors. The latter. how(\er. shows chxser relationship between
tortiigaoisis and vcinisla th.m betw een dcscrticola and fortngacnsis. A
com])arison of t(i)-hti/iiciisis with -I'cnitsUi shows tlie following' dififer-
ences, (I) more caudals (2) iar.yer dorsal spots (3) a longer, narrower
medial nape spot, and (4) a hij,dicr ventral-caudal total.

Tntergradin^,'' exist between Tcinisla and those oclirorhxnclnts found
on Cape San Lucas, fl i In tlu' number of ventrals. (2) Number of
caudals. (3) Nape jiattern. \n the first two the f)verlappin,<,'' is slisjht
;ind occurs in specimens fr(tni La Paz (see table 2). The na])e pattern
is similar in about half of the specimens. They differ noticeal)!\- in
(1) number of dorsal spots. I'cintsta has 6,3 or more. ochrorhyju'Iiits
has less than 60, inter,i,n-;'.des i)roduce a hi.yher number. (2) Size of
dorsal spots. (3 ) Distance between spots. The differences are in no
way restricted to the color pattern. Rotli the ventrals and caudals
average nnich hii^her. and the \ I'ntr.al-caudal totals are. with one ex-
ception. 230 or more in ^'I'liiisUi, with less th.an 230 in all but two speci-
mens of Oi'lirorlixiicluis. The dors.al scales ;ire more often in 15 rows
at the vent in 7U'iiiisUi than in nrhyorli yiirhits. It .appears then that
7'cimsta is more closel}' rekated to dcscrlicola th;m to ochrorJiyjicliux.
and must have had a southward dispersion from southern California.

A comparison of ochrorhynchns with kJauhcri shows (1") a close
resemblance in size and numl)er of dorsal s])ots. (2) The same num-
ber of ventral and caudal scutes, i 3i \'entra1-caudal totals are equal.
The two forms are different in that, (li the lateral nuchal stripe is
complete in oclirorhyiielius but is divided in klauhcri. (2) The median
nuchal spot is elongate and reaches within a scale of the parietals in
ochrorhynchus: in klauhcri over /O'^-r have a median spot 2-6 scales
posterior to the parietals. or .a divided niedi.an spot. Khiithcri is re-
lated to nuchalatiis (\) caudals ;ire completely overlapping-, (2) num-
ber of dorsal si)ots are the s.-une, rmd (3) the ranges are adjoining and

The Great Basin Naturalist
80 WILMEK \V. TANNKK Vol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

produce interj^rades. They dififer in that uuchalatits has (\) a greater
number of ventrals (2) a high ventral-caudal total (3) a ccjmplete nape
band (4) a complete lateral slripe from tlie band to the eye (5) only
19 dorsal rows at the middle of the body and (6) only 7 infralabials.

NuchalatHS is related to descrticola in having (1) a similar number
of ventrals (2) only a few scales in the ventral-caudal totals (3) only
15 dorsal rows at the vent and (4) a complete stripe from the lateral
spots to the eye. They diifer in that iiuchalatits has (1) fewer caudals
(2) a complete nape band. (3) only 19 scale rows at the middle of the
body and (4) only 7 infralabials.

The new form uuoocuhiris is unquestionably an ochrorhynchits. It
differs from all in having a unique color pattern, and in the decrease
of the postoculars. It is related to t\pical cchrorhynchus and to
klauheri in the number of ventrals and in the size of the dorsal spots.
T hesitate to assign it to any definite phylo-genetic place ; first, because
it is a single specimen not in a good state of preservation and second,
because some of its characters may not be normal for the form, when
more specimens are available for study.

HYP.SIGLENA SLF.VINI Tanner. PI. ITI, Fig. 6

Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus ochrorhynchus Van Denburgh, The Reptiles of
Western N. America, Occasional Papers of the Calif. Acad, of Sci., Vol. II,
Snakes and Turtles, p. 782, 1922.

Hypsiglena slevini Tanner. Two New Species of Hypsiglena from Western
Xortli .\merica, Great Basin Naturalist. Vol. TV, Nos. 1 & 2, pp. 53-54, June 30,
1943. Smith and Tavlor. Proceedings of the U. S. Nat. Mus., Bull. 187, 1945.
p. 74.

Hypsiglena torquata ochrorhynchus Px.gert and Oliver, Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.
Hull., Vol. 83, Art 6. 1945. pp. 378-81.

Gkneral Diagnosis

A Hypsiglena characterized by having a distinct head witli a blunl
snout by reason of the small compressed rostral, .5 mm. long and 2.1
wide, distance from rostral to frontal 2.?) ; internasals nearly square ;
eye large its diameter 2.3, greater than the distance from the orbit to
the nostril (1.8), also greater than half the interorbital space, parietals
large and extending laterally to contact the lower postoculars ; the
frontal is narrower between the orbits than the anterior or posterior
parts; other head plates are normal. V^entrals and subcaudals, 190
and 68 respectively, dorsal scale rows in 21-23-21-19-17-15 rows; tail
long 18.9 per cent of total length. Nape with a distinctive color pat-
tern of five si)ots. 3 anterior and the two large ])osterior s|)ots.

Dec. 2*^. 1044 a iaxoxomu" sTri)> (U iin csici.kna Hi

1\a.\(;k: Known i»nl\ htmi llu' \y]>v locality. i'niTto l-.si-ondido.
Lower California. Mexico.

Material: riu' t\]>c sjicciniiii L .A.S. 5.^0.U I'ucrio l-.-scondido.
Baja California.

Remarks: In coni])ai"inL; this species with other tonns of hack
fanj^ed snakes it is found that it resenihle^ \ ery closel\ tin- specific
characters of nian\ ! .c f^lodcira. Vhv i;eneral ap]ieaiance ot tin- hea<l
is that of a Leptodeira hut its smooth fant^s. reduced nuniher of an-
terior preniaxillar\' teeth (Si, a siiii;le apical i)it in each dorsal scale
and its short tail 18.9 i)er cent of tlie total len_<ith. ( lony for a Hypsi-
,i;lena ) places it as a uni(|ue species of II ypsujli-mt.

After completinj^- the above notes. Charles M. IJogert and James A.
Oliver published a report (1945. ]). 381) in which this species is con-
sidered as beini^ a synonym of (iclirorliyiiclius. It ai)j»ears that they
l)ase these conclusions on. ( 1st) the fact that it is a single specimen,
collected from the same peninsula as orhrorhyiiclins and veniista, (2nd)
that the ventral count of 190 is within the reijorted ranj^^e (160 to 199)
re]»ort by Klauber and W Oodbuix . ( .^rd ) that 68 caudals scarcely ex-
ceeds the maximum reported b\ Klauber. (4th~) "the fact that the
parietals are in contact with tlu lower p(jstocular indicates that the
upper postocular has fused probably as an abnormality, with the parie-
tals" and (5th) that the terms l)lunt snout and lar^e eye is meaninsj^less
without further data to suijstantiate them.

In answerini^' these conclusions it is only fair to say that they were
apparently made withotil either ilogert or (Jliver ever having seen the
specimen in question. It is not a trifle astonishing then to find that
the distinguishing characters or. to them, "abnormalities." The fact
that a new llxpsiglena should comt' from Lower ("alifornia is not an
impossil)ility. two sjx'cies of xarious genera, Coluber. Thanmophis and
others commonly occiu" at the same dens, h'urthermore. Lower Cali-
fornia has only been partiall}- worked as a collecting ground. The
ventrals are high and the caudals do exceed by several scutes any other
specimen studied or reported in the literature to elate. The probability
that the parietals and upper postoculars have fused, producing an ab-
normality is a gross mis-statement. It is clearh- rejiorted (Tanner
1943. p. 53) that the j)ostoculars are 2-2 and that the dorsal scale is
the larger. It is also staled that the "parietals" are in contact with
"both j)ostoculars." The snout is blunt, bv reason of a com])ressed
rostral which nieasiu'es onh' .,■"! mm. In this charactei" slrziiii is \er\'
much like si)icimens of Lei)todeira. That is. the length of the rostral
\isible fiom above is 21 'v of the distance from ihe rostral to the

TTie Great Basin N'aturalift
82 WILMER W. TANNER Vol. \', XoS. 3 & 4

frontal. Jn Leptodoira it varies from 10-20^. (I have checked only
a few specimens) and in Hy])sig'lena from 30-60%, with well over
50% of the specimens rano-in^- between 35-50%. The eye is large,
especially when one considers that for a specimen of ochrorJixuchus
to produce as large an eye it must be about twice the size (430 mm.)
of the specimen in question. The eye is measurable in anv specimen
available for comparison and since the eye was reported as having a
diameter of 2.3 mm., it might easily have been checked in specimens
having a comparable size.

Furthermore slcvini is characterized by having 23 dorsal rows from
the 38th to the 114th ventral; 258 ventral-caudal scutes, exceeded only
by a female specimen from .St. George. Utah ; and a nape pattern of five
spots instead of the typical three found in most ocUrnrJiyuchus.

GENERAL SUMMARY

A careful stud\- was made of the scale formulas, color pattern,
maxillar}- teeth and bod_\- ])roportions of over 400 specimens of Hypsi-
glena. This data was then compared with similar data secured from
several species of Leptodeira and with specimens belonging to Pscii-
(iolcptodcira latifacioUi Guntlier. As a result of this stud_\- rhe writer
is convinced that the genus H}]>siglena is distinct from Leptodeira,
also that Pseudoleptodeira is a valid genus consisting of two and prob-
ably three species.

This study supports the conclusion that the genus Hypsiglena ma.\
be divided into five species, iorquatus, affinis. dioiklci, sIcTiiii, and
ochrorJiyiirluis. The last named is (li\i(led into ten subspecies, as fol-
lows: orlirorliynrhiis. jaini. icxaiia. -i'ciiHSla. nitrlialahis, (hwrrlicola.
■lorealiis, kJauhcr'i, t(>rtit(/aciisis and itii(i(H'iil(in{s, the last live are de-
scribed as new in this report.

The snakes of this genus form a natural group which extends from
Central America through Mexico and into western United States. It
appears that the genus may have had its origin in Mexico, and that
ochrorhynchus dispersed itself northward and is now a Nearctic spe-
cies while torquatus moved southword and is neotropical.

Besides the descriptions, there are keys, data tables, plates and a
distributional ma]) of the genus.

J>ec. 29, 1944 a taxonomic study of hypsiglena 83

I'.IHI.TOGRAPHY

Aiulerson, Oscar I.

1940 The SpDtted Xisht Snake in Oregon. Occ. Pap. Col. ol
Puget Souiul .\(i. 7, pp. vV)-.^7.

I'of^ert, diaries M. tSc (Jliver, James A.

1945 A Preliminary Analysis of the Herpetofauna of Sonora,
Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. \;)1. S.^, Art. 6, pp. 378-81.

I?()ulenger, George Albert

1894 Catalogue of the Snakes in the IJritish Museum. Vol. 11.
pp. 2()9-ll.

Cope, Edvv^ard Drinker

186() Proceedings of the Acad. Xat. Sci. i'hiladelphia pp. 246.
1898 (19(X)) Crocodiles, Lizards and Snakes of North America.
Ann. Rept. U. S. Nat. Alus. pp. 953-4.

Cowles, Raymond B.

1941 Evidence of \'enoni in II. f)chr()rhynchus, Copeia, No. I.
pp. 4-6.

Dunkle, David H. & Smith, Hobert M.

1937 Notes on Some Mexican Ophidians. Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool.
Univ. Michigan. No. 363, p. 15.

Dunn, Emmett R.

1936 Notes on N. Am. Le])t()deira. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 22 pp.
691-95.

Erwin, Richard P.

1928 List of Ida. Rept. and Amph. in the Ida. State Hist. Mus.
Eleventh Biennial Rept. of the State Hist. See. of Ida. p. 31.

Fitch, Henry S.

1939 Leptodeira in Northern Calif. Herpetcjlogica Vol. 1. No. 6.

Giinther, Albert

1860 Description of Leptodeira Torquata, A new Snake from
Central America. Annals of Natural-Historv, Ser. 3, Vol.
5, 1860.

1895 Biokjgia Centrali- Americana, Rept. Batr. p. 13.

Hardy, Ross

1938 An Annotated List of Reptiles and Aaiiphibians of Carbon
County, Utah. Proc. Ut. Acad. Sci. Vol. 16, p. 99.

1939 Some Notes on Utah Reptiles. Proc. Ut. Acad. Sci. Vol.
17, pp. 83-102.

Hanley, G. H.

1942 Hvpsiglena ochrorhynchus from Kern Co., California.
Copeia, No. 4, p. 260.

Hibbard, Claude W.

1937 H. ochrorhynchus in Kansas and additional notes on Lepto-
typhlops dulcis. Copeia No. 1. p. 74.

The Great Basin Naturalist

84 wiLMKK w . 'jAi\xj:R Vol. V, Xos. 3 & 4

Klauber, L. M.

I'^.vS Notes from a 1 ii'r))cl()l(),i;ical l)iar\-. I. C()i)eia No. 4, pp.
192-3.

1939 Reptile Life in the Arid Southwest. Hull. Zool. Soc. San
Diego. No. 14, pp. 38. 42, 44, 48, 50. 54.

1941 Four Papers on the Applications of Statistical jVk-thods to
Herpetological I'roblcnis. Bull. Zool. Soc. San Diego No.
17, pp. 74-79.

Kuntz, Robert E.

1040 Hypsiglcna ochrorln-nchus in ( )klahonia. Copcia No. 2,
p. 136.

Lewis, Thomas 11.

1942 Additional Records for Washington Snakes, Copeia No. 2,
p. 129.

Little, Elbert L. Jr.

1940 Amphibians and Reptiles of the Roosevelt Reservoir Area,
Arizona. Copeia No. 4, p. 264.

Linsdale, Jean M.

1940 Amphibians and Reptiles of Nevada, Proc. Amer. Acad, of
Arts & Sci. Vol. 73, No. 8, p. 247.

Nelson, Edward W.

1922 Lower California and its Natural Resources. Nat. Acad.
Sci. Memoir, Vol. 16.

Pack, Herbert J.

1930 Snakes of Utah. Agr. Exp. Sta. Lull. 221, pp. 15.16.

Perkins, C. B.

1938 The Snakes of San Diego County, Bull. Zool. Soc. San

Diego, No. 13, pp. 44-59.
1940 Key to the Snakes of the United States. lUdl. Zool. Soc.
San Diego No. 16.

Presnell, C. C.

1937 Herpetological Notes from Zion National Park. Copeia
No. 4, p. 232.

Slevin, Joseph R.

1923 E.xpcdition of the Calif. Acad, of Sci. to the Gulf of Calif,
in 1921 (general account). Proc. of the Calif. Acad, of
Sci. Vol. 12, No. 6, pp. 55-72, map.

Smith, Hobert M.

1943 Summary of the collection of Snakes and Crocodiliaus
made in Mexico under the Walter Rathbone Bacon Travel-
ing Scholarship. Proc. of the U. S. Nat. Mus. Vol. 93,
p. 433.

Smith, Hobert M. & Taylor, Edward H.

1945 An Annotated Checklist and Kev to the Snakes of Mexico.
U. S. Nat. Mus. Bui. 187, pp. 72-74.

I )CC. 29, 1944 A TAXONOMIC STUDY OF J I VI'SIGLIiN A 85

Slcjiu-ijcT. Leonard

189.> X. Aincr. I'auna. Xu. 7. May p. 2U5.

Svilila. Aitlier & Knox, CanK-ron

I'^n 'Flu- Spotted XiL^ht Snake mi Washington. C"oi)fia Xo. 1,

p. 32.

• lanncr. \\ dnu-r \\ .

193"^ Keptile.s of Utah Counly. Utah Acad. Sci. Vol. 16, p. 105.
1941 Tile l\c[)tik'S and iVniphihians of Idaho, X^o. 1. The Great

IJasin Natur. Vol. 2, No. 2, ]). 95.
194.^ Tuf) Xew Specie.s of 1 hp.sij^lena from Western .\orlh

America. The Great iJasi'n Naturalist. Vol. 4, Xo. 1 & 2,

pp. 49-54.

Tanner, \ asco M.

1927 Distribution List of tlie Aniphil)ians and Re[)tiles of Utah,

No. J, Copeia No. 1<)3, pp. 54-58.
1929 Distributional List of the Ampiiibians and Ivei)tiles of L'tah,

No. 3, Copeia No. 171, pp. 46-52.
\9^S Western Worm .Snake, .Sia^onodon humilis (Baird & Gi-

rard) Found in Utah. Proc. Utah Acad. Sci., Arts and

Letters, Vol. XII, pp. 267. 270.

Taylor. Edward H.

19.^6 Notes on the Herpetological Fauna of the Mexican State

of Sonora. L^niv. of Kan. .Sci. I'ul. Vol. 24, No. 19, pp.

494-5.
1939a Notes on the Mexican Snakes of the genus Leptodeira, with

a proposal of a new snake genus, Pseudoleptodeira, Univ.

Kansas Sci. P)ull., Vol. 25, pp. 315-355, 7 figs., 5 pis.
1939b (3n Mexican Snakes of the genera Trimorphodon and Hyp-

siglena. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull.. \^j1. 25. pp. 357-.383, 1

fig. 4 pis.
1940 .Some Mexican .Serpents. L;niv. Kansas .Sci. Bull., Vol. 26,

p. 467-469.

Van Denburgh, John

1922 Reptiles of Western North America, Occ. Pap. of the Calif.
Acad. Sci. Vo]. IT, Snakes and Turtles, p. 782.

Woodbury, A. M.

1928' Reptiles of Zion Nat. Park. Copeia No. 166, pp. 14-21.
1931 The Reptiles of Utah, Univ. of Ut. Bull. No. 5, pp. 96-7.

The Great Basin Naturalist
86 WILMKR W . TANNER Vol. V, NOS. 3 & 4

PLATE I

Fig. 1 Distribution of the gastrosteges in the subspecies deserticola
and klauberi.

Fig. 2 Distribution of the urosteges in the subspecies deserticola and
klauberi.

Fig. 3 Distribution of the gastrosteges-urosteges totals for the two
subspecies.

Ot'c. 2Q. l'M4 A rwoNOMu: sttdv of iivrsici.KNA

87

DCSf RTIC01.A

ns ne ibo lee le^ lae laa zap 19^ i>» ise us loo zoz ipa

162 Ig4 166 163 i70 m 174 1 76 1 7S 180 iS£ 104 IBS 196 l89

~r:i

u

FIG I

GAsrHOTeff£S

DfSEHTlCOLA

JZL

n

42 44 46 4e 50 52 S4 56 56 60 6^ 6* 66

39 40 42

44

46

4e

50 52 54

56

^ U LJ

1

III

1

KL AUBEBI

-

1

III

F/S, 2

UPOSTEQBiS

^^6 e;6 -vo ^^^ 2g4 ^^^ ^^a ^30 ^3^ 234 ^3^

£30 ^3^ <;34 236 238 ^40 ^^i^ 244 246 248 250 liZ ZS* LSt

FIG. 3
CAS TRO S T(;£S- U»OS TB CE S TOTAL

The Great Basin Naturalist
88 WILMKK W. TANNER VV)1. V. NoS. .3 & 4

PLATE II

Fig. 1 Lateral view of the type specimen of lorcalus B. Y. U. No.
2829. Showing; color pattern and the double loreals.

Fig. 2 Dorsal view of affinis. E.H.T. Xo. 4601 showing the large
light and dark colored nape bands.

Fig. 3 Dorsal view of toriugaensis, type specimen C.A.S. 51460.
Showing the elongate medial nape spot.

Fig. 4 Lateral view of tortuyaciisis, type specimen. .Showing the di-
vided lateral nape spot.

Fig. 5 Lateral view of janii IVl.M.Z. No. 77243. .^^howing the dark-
enlarged nape band.

Fig. 6 Lateral view of (iffiiiis Vl.H.T. No. 460L

Fig. 7 Lateral view of Fsciidolcpfodeira latifaciata Cninther.

Fig. 8 Dorsal color pattern (jf the type specimen of lorealus. Show-
ing the small size and great distance between the spots.

Fig. 9 Dorsal color pattern of torquata E.H.T. No. 5564. Showing
the large dark spots and the half scale that separates each spot.

Dec. 20. l')44 a taxonomu" sT^^^ m ii \ p^k.i.kna

89

PLATE EL

The Great Basin Naturalist
90 WILMFR W. TANNER Vol. V, Nos. 3 8c 4

PLATE III

F'iij. 1 Dorsal view of a tvpical specimen of torquota E.H.T. No.
23477.

F\g. 2 Dorsal view of the tvpe specimen of o. niichualatiis B.Y.U.
No. 3008.

Fit,^ 3 Dorsal view of the tvpe specimen of o. deseri'wola B.Y.U. No.
2836.

Fig. 4 Lateral view of the type specimen of o. uiiaocularus A.M. No.
62756. Showini^ the single postocular and the small and large
loreal scales.

Fig. 5 Lateral view oi a typical Hypsiylcna V>.\ .V . No. 27(J9. Show-
ing the arrangement of dorsal scales, their reduction to fewer
rows and the location of the apical pit in each scale.

Fig. 6 Dorsal view of slciini C.A.S. 5363L

Fig. 7 Dorsal color pattern of o. vennsto C.L'. No. 13775. Showing
the divided dorsal spots.

Fig. 8 Dorsal color pattern of o. uuaocnlarus. Showing the uniform
color between and lateral to the dorsal spots.

I )CC. 2'), l'>44 A TAXONONflC STIDV Ol' 1 1 Y I'SK II.KN A

91

PLATE m

92

\\ ll.XJKR W. TANNER

The Grcul B;isin Naturalist
\ol. \'. Xos. O & 4

^^^

<

1

</)

o
o

3

<

cr

h-

1

_J

(ij

<

q:

<

<

CQ

Z

Ul

III

X

D

<

(/)

(T

o

<

V

UJ

O

D

_l

III

o

_l

Z

^

(-

r-^

<

(0 =5 o P ~

^ h o < ^ ^ ^

UJ
O

Q_

>-
I

UNDESCRIJiJ'J) SPJXII-:S ( )l' \VESTI^:RN NKARCTIC
TIPULIDAI'. ( DinivRA). 11.

C lIAkLKS 1'. ALKXANDlil':

Massachusetts State College

Amherst, Massachusetts

The preceding part under this general title was published in The
Great Kasin Naturalist, 4: 89 -UX); 1943. The species of crane-
flies considered at this time were taken in northeastern California by
Professor Arthur W. Lindsey, and in Washington and northern Idaho
by Professor Axel L. Melander. Except where indicated to the con-
lrar\ in the text, the types of these novelties are preserved in my
personal collection, a gracious favor on the parts of the collectors for
which I am most grateful.

Tipula (Arctotipula) sacra Alexander, sp. n.

Size relatively small (wing, male, 11.5 mm.J ; general coloration
light gray, the praescutum with four more brownish gray stripes;
wings brownish gray, virtually unpatterned except for the brown
stigma; macrotrichia on certain veins beyond the cord, including the
distal section of /\4+5, AJi and M'2; abdominal tergites ob.scure orange-
brown, with a broad dark brown, median stripe ; male hypopygium
having the ninth tergite with a U-shaped caudal emargination, the
lobes obtuse ; ventral surface of tergite on either side of median line
with a bilobed plate; outer dististyle moderately flattened, about three
times as long as the greatest width; iimer dististyle simple, its beak
broadly obtuse, outer margin near base produced into a flattened plate
that terminates in two blackened spines.

Male. — Length about 10 mm.; wing 11.5 mm.; antennae about
3 mm.

Frontal prolongation of head relalivel}' short, dark brown above,
somewhat paler below : nasus unusually long and powerful; palpi
chiefly dark brown, ihe terminal segment paling to brownish yellow.
.Antennae with scai)e obscure yellow, pedicel clearer yellow, llagellum
dark brown ; proximal flagellar segments short-cylindrical, the basal
enlargement very jioorly developed; longest verticils about one-fourth
longer than the segments. Head gray, the center of posterior vertex
brown, the area narrowed in front, broadly expanded behind ; anterior
vertex broad, approximately six times the diameter of the scape; no
evident vertical tubercle.

93

The Great Basin Naturalist
94 CHAKLKS I'. Al.KXANDI.K V'ol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

Pronotal scutum light gray, infuscated medially; scutellum clear
light yellow. Mesonotal praescutum light gray with four more brown-
ish gray stripes that are very vaguely margined with darker ; humeral
triangle light yellow ; vestiture of praescutum pale, short and incon-
spicuous; posterior sclerites of notum gray: scutum of unique type
discolored; parascutella nacreous, the adjoining posterior portions of
the scutal lobes yellow ; postnotum with lateral borders of medio-
tergite yellow, the katapleurotergite extensively of this color, only its
ventral portion gray pruinose. Pleura chiefly light gray, the extreme
dorsal portions of the sternopleurite and meron vaguely still paler
gray ; dorsopleural membrane clear yellow. Halteres with stem brown-
ish yellow, knob weakly infuscated, its apex a little paler; base of
stem restrictedly orange. Legs with coxae light gray, their apices re-
strictedly obscure yellow, clothed with abundant long white setae from
brown punctures; trochanters yellow; femora yellow, their apices dark
brown, relatively narrow and subequal on all legs ; tibiae obscure
brownish yellow, the tips very narrowly darkened; tarsi black; claws
(male) with a single tooth. Wings brownish gray, almost unpatterned
except for the brown stigma ; a faint brown seam along virtually the
entire length of vein Cu; obliterative areas very restricted and incon-
spicuous ; veins brown. Macrotrichia of veins bcAond cord relatively
abundant, appearing as a complete series on distal section of Ru5, on
most of veins R2+3 and il/i, and with two or three trichia on vein M2.
Venation: Ki+2 entire; Rs less than twice R2+S and about twice iii-cit;
petiole of cell Ah short, somewhat variable, shorter than ni.

Abdominal tergites obscure orange-brown, with a broad, dark
brown, median stripe, almost continuous on the more proximal seg-
ments, the posterior borders of the intermediate segments pale, inter-
rupting the stripe ; sternites brown basally, the posterior borders
broadly pale; outer segments more uniformly dark brown; hypopygium
in large part yellow. Male hypopygium with the ninth tergite trans-
verse, narrowed posteriorly, with nearly the cephalic half darkened,
the posterior border broadly yellow ; caudal margin with a U-shaped
emargination, the lobes low and obtuse; on ventral surface of tergite,
on either side of midline, with a pale yellow, feebly sclerotized plate
that is unequally bilobed, the posterior arm an acute spine directed
caudad and laterad, the cephalic arm obtuse at apex, directed laterad.
Outer dististyle relatively narrow, flattened, the length about three
times the greatest width which is at near midlength ; apex obtuse. In-
ner dististyle simple, the beak broad, obtuse at tip ; outer margin near
base produced into a flattened plate that bears two acute spines, the

I \'i\ 2''. l'M4 w i:>i i:k.\ xi: akc 'iu ii iti.idai:. ii. 95

outer one niore slcndir; iiiaii^in of style- iiiinudiatch' distad of these
spines \\ itb a ^ijroup of about six stronj^ setae; outer basal portion of
style a low obtuse pale cushion that is densely setuliferous. Aedeagus
short, subtended by slender and \ery inconspicuous gonapophyses.

Habitat. — Northern Idaho.

HoLOTYPE, (^, Priest Lake. Tulc i^ay. I'onner Co., August 22. 1920
( Melander).

Tipiila {.Ircfotipiila) sacra is quite distinct from the other regional
members of the subgenus, including two larger species with patterned
wings. T. (A.) scmidca Alexander and T. {A.) tzuogwotceana Alex-
ander, and two further species of entirely different color and struc-
ture. T. (A.) ahsaroka Alexander and T. (A.) phitonis Alexander.
The \\y is more like certain of the arctic and subarctic members, as
T. (A.) alcniica Alexander, T. {A.) hcsscisi Osten Sacken. and T.
( . /. ) hcssclsnldcs Alexander all (littering among themselves in hypo-
pygi;'.! characters. The present Ry superficially resembles a S])ecies
of the genus Prionocera Loew. At this time it may be noted that
various species hitherto referred to this latter genus without question
are in reality modified species of the genus Tipula and would appar-
ently fall within the limits of Arctotipula without serious changes in
the subgeneric definition. The species concerned are Prionocera
parrioides (Alexander), of Arctic Alaska, and P. fuscipemiis (Loew),
widespread across the entire northern L^nited States and adjacent
Canada. Tn transferring the latter species to Tipula, the name is pre-
occupied by the earlier Tipula fuscipennis Curtis, and the fly will
have to be known by its later name and supposed synonym, Tipula
f Arctotipula ) illusfris Doane.

Limnophila (Elaeophila) modoc .Alexander, sp. n.

General coloration of mesonotum dark gray, the praescutum with
four scarcely defined, more plumbeous gray stripes ; pseudosutural
foveae black, conspicuous; femora yellow, the tips narrowly brownish
black; wings whitish subhyaline, patterned with dark brown, the areas
confined to the vicinity of the veins; m-cu- at near two-fifths the length
of cell 1st il/2; male hypopygium with the dorsal crest of outer disti-
style relatively high, entirely smooth, on its outer portion sloping
gradually down to the body of style, not forming a projecting point ;
inner dististyle at apex broad and obtuse.

Maij-;. — Length about 6.5 mm. ; wing 7.5 mm. ; antennae about
1.3 mm.

The Great Basin Naturalist
% I'llARl.l,.^ 1'. Al.KXANDKR Vol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

Female. — Length about 7 nun. ; wing 7.5 mm.

Rostrum and palpi brownish black. Antennae with scape and pedi-
cel (lark brown, flagellum jjaler brown; basal flagellar segments oval,
the outer ones more elongate; longest verticils fully one-half longer
than the segments; verticils of more i)roximal segments unilateral!}'
distributed. Head brownish gray ; anterior vertex relatively broad,
in male about three times the diameter of scape.

Pronotum brownish gray, the scutellum and anterior pretergites
somewhat brighter. Mesonotal praescutum dark gray with four scarce-
ly defined, more plumbeous gray stripes; pseudosutural foveae black,
conspicuous ; posterior sclerites of notum dark leaden gray. Pleura
dark plumbeous gray, somewhat brightened on the dorsal sternopleur-
ite; dorsopleural membrane brownish yellow. Halteres yellow. Legs
with coxae and trochanters reddish yellow ; femora yellow, the tips
rather narrowly but conspicuously brownish black, the amount sub-
equal on all legs; tibia yellow, the extreme tips not or scarcely dark-
ened; basal tarsal segments yellow, the outer ones more infuscated.
wings with the ground whitish subhyaline. patterned with dark brown.
. the areas relatively small and restricted to the vicinity of the veins,
as follows ; Over h and arculus, sending a spur along vein Cii for a
distance ; midway between arculus and origin of Ks, not quite reach-
ing C, behind extending to near midwidth of cell A' ; a rectangular area
at origin of Rs; fork of Sc. extending caudad to Rs; stigma; narrow
but very conspicuous seams over cord and outer end of cell 1st M2 ;
fork of .1/1+2; marginal clouds on veins /vs, Ra, M2 to Cu. inclusive,
and over 2nd A ; veins yellow, darker in the patterned areas. \'ena-
tion : Sc\ ending shortly before fork of Rs, Sc2 a short distance from
its tip; Rs long, square and spurred at origin; R2 .shorter than /^i+2 ;
m-cu at near two-fifths the length of cell 1st M2.

Abdominal tergites indistinctly bicolored. obscure yellowish browr
on more than the basal half of segment, the broad tips dark brown ;
segments seven and eight more uniformly brownish black; hypopygium
light brown. Male hypopygium with the outer dististyle moderately
wide, terminating in a slender spine, the distal portion, especially the
outer crest, with microscopic appressed denticles; inner margin with
fewer teeth, the more basal of these very low and obtuse ; dorsal crest
relatively high, entirely smooth, on its outer portion sloping gradually
down to the body of style, without a projecting point or tooth, as in
other related species. Inner dististyle at apex very broad and obtuse,
provided with very long setae.

Habitat. — Northeastern Calif orni;i.

I )i'c. 2''. l'M4 \\i:mi-,k.\ .\i:ak( tk i ii'i i.id.m,. ii. 97

lloi.oTYi'K, J, Davis Creek, Alodoc Co.. alliludc 5.000 led. July 11,
1*^22 (Lindsey). Ai.i.otoi'otvi'k. J.

The present tiy is most similar to Linuiopliila ( Elaeoplnla) aldrichi
Alexander, and its subspecies alficrisfa Alexander, differinj,'' in the
smaller size. sliiL^dil det.nils ot coloration, and ui the slruclure of the
male liypopyi;ium. particularly of the dististxles. as indicated above.

Gonomyia (Idiocera) lindseyi Alexander, sp. n.

Belonjjs to the scxguttata {hlanda) sj^roup; mesonotal praescutum
and scutum sj;^ray. traversed b\" an intermediate pair of lonj^itudinal
brown stripes: thoracic i)leura conspicuously striped with yellowish
white; femora and tibiae yellow, the tips weakly infuscated ; wings
whitish subhyaline. patterned with brown; Sc long, ^'ci ending about
opposite midlength of Rs; 7?ul' and A'a confluent at margin: male hy-
popygium with the outer lol)e of basistyle obtusely rounded at apex;
outer dististyle a sinuous blackened rod. constricted on its basal third;
intermediate style a little longer, its tip acute, bearing a small erect
black spine on face at near midlength ; aedeagus at ai)ex terminating
in a small yellow crook.

Male. — Length about 5.5 nun. : wing 6.5 mm.

Female. — Length about 6.5 mm. : wing 7 mm.

Rostrum and palpi black. Antennae brownish black, the scape
\ellow at base and above: flagellar segments oval, the outer ones more
elongate. Head yellow, the center of vertex extensively infuscated :
anterior vertex relatively wide, about twice the diameter of scape, a
little wider in the female.

Pronotum light gray medirdly. more infuscated toward the sides.
the extreme margin light yellow : pretergites light yellow. Mesonotal
praescutum grav. with a ])air of brown stripes extending the whole
length of thi- sclerite. the humeral region more _\ellowed : i>seudo-
sutural foveae horn-yellow ; lateral praescutal borders clearer gray,
narrowly bordered internally by very vague indications of the usual
lateral stripes: scutum medially obscure browaiish fulvous, the ex-
treme central portion narrcnvly more darkened, the central portion of
each lobe traversed 1)y the brown stripes above described, the outer
part of lobe gray; scutellum infuscated medially, the posterior border
reddened; mediotergite with cenlr.d ])ortion brownish gray, with ;i
conspicuous pale yellow spot on cephalic lateral porti(»n. this extended
cephalad over the anapleurotergite : kata|)leurotergite brownish gray.
Pleura brownish graw with ,'i Iiroad. \ellow ish white, longitudinal stripe
extending frrmi tin- fore coxae across the dors.'il sternopleurite, \entral

The Great Basin Naturalist

98 ( ii.\Ki,Ks V. .\li:.\am)i:r Vol. ^^ Xos. 3 & 4

pleropleurite and nietapleura ; dorsopleural membrane yellow. Halteres
with stem yellow, the extreme base very weakly darkened, knob brown-
ish black. Legs with the fore and middle coxae whitened, posterior
coxae more inf uscated : trochanters obscure yellow ; femora and tibiae
yellow, the tips narrowly and weakly infuscated; tarsi dirty white bas-
ally. the tips blackened. Wings whitish subhyaline. the base even
more whitened ; a conspicuous brown pattern, arranged as in the blanda
group, including areas over h, arculus, origin of Rs, fork of Sc, stigma,
elements of cord, fork of il/1+2 and outer ends of cells /?.•? and R4 ;
veins brownish yellow, dark brown in the patterned areas; Sc and pre-
arcular veins almost white. Venation : Sc long, Sci ending about mid-
length of the long Rs, Sc2 near its tip ; Rs angulated to square at origin ;
Ri+2 and Rs confluent at margin, closing cell Ri ; cell 2)id M-i longer
than its petiole; ni-cu nearly twice its length before the fork of M.

Abdomen brownish black, the caudal borders of the basal and in-
termediate segments rather broadly and very conspicuously light yel-
low, producing rings; outer segments more uniformly darkened; hy-
popygium with the proximal portions of the basistyle infuscated, the
outer parts }ellow ; in female, the genital shield and bases of the valves
brownish black, the tips of the cerci paler. Male hypopygium with
the outer lobe of basistyle obtusely rounded at tip, not acutely pointed,
as in hrookmam and calif oriiica; what appears to represent an inner
lobe is very large and flattened, fully as long as the outer lobe. Outer
dististyle a simple sinuous blackened rod, constricted on basal third,
gradually narrowed to the acute tip ; intermediate style a little longer,
nearly straight, narrowed to the acute tip, on face of blade at near
midlength with a small erect black spine; inner style about one-half
as long as the last, appearing as a nearl)- straight rod, before apex a
trifle expanded, thence narrowed to the acute, narrowly darkened tip.
Aedeagus at apex terminating in a small yellow sclerotized crook.
Ninth tergite with the caudal margin convexly rounded, moderately
thickened, densely provided with short setae.

Habitat. — ^Northeastern California.

HoLOTYPE, J*, Davis Creek, Modoc Co., altitude 5,000 feet, July 11,
1922 (Lindsey). Allotopotype, $.

I am very pleased to name this fly for the collector, Professor
Arthur Ward Lindsey, of Dennison College, to whom I am greatly
indebted for various species of Tipulidae. In the structure of the male
hypopygium, especially of the dististyles, the species is entirely ditYerent
from all other regional members of the group, being most similar to

lkc.2'^l'M4 w i-.s'ri:K\ .\i:Aia-i-ic ■iiiti.idai:. ii. 99

(iniioiii yiti {/(/iorcra) hrodkiinnii Alrxaiidci" and (/. ( /. ) ctilifdniira
AlexandcT l)ut eiilircly distincl.

Erioptera (Mesocyphona) melanderiana Alexander, sp. u.

( ifiuTal coloration j^iax , the praescutuni w ith two brown longi-
tudinal stri|)es: thoracic i)leura dark yra\ . with an obscure yellow
loiii^itvidinal stri))e; le,l,^s almost nnit'ornih daikened : wini^s weakly
tini^ed with brown, unpatterned ; cell /.s7 .1/j closed.

Maik. -Length about .\5 mm.; winj; 4 nun.

Femalk. — Leni^th about 4 mm. ; w in.i; 4.S nun.

Rostrum brown, palpi brownish black. /Vnleimae with scape brown,
pedicel brownish black, tla^ellum very j>ale l)rown ; flagellar segments
oval, the more proximal ones crowded, the outer segments elongate-
oval ; verticils long and conspicuous. Head dark brown, pruinose.

Pronotum brown and light vellow ; pretergites yellow. Mesonotal
praescutum gray with a cons])icuous, dark brown, longitudinal stripe
on either side of the wider gray median vitta ; tuberculate ])its lying
entirely in the central gray stripe, on a transverse level with the black
pseudosutural foveae ; scutum gray, the mesal edge of each lobe dark
lirown ; scutellum weakly infuscated at base, paling to oliscure yellow
outwardly: mediotergite gray on central portion, paling to obscure
yellow on sides. Pleura and pleurotergite chiefly dark gray, with an
obscure yellow, longitudinal stripe, extending from behind the fore
coxae across the dorsal sternojileurite and i)ter()pleurite to the base of
abdomen, passing beneath the wing-root; dorsopleural region t)roadly
yellow. Halteres with stem pale yellow, knob weakl\' darkened. Legs
with the coxae and trochanters brownish yellow, the fore coxae some-
what darker; remainder of legs almost uniformly darkened, the fem-
oral bases slightly brightene(l. toward the tii)S becoming vaguely more
darkened but not forming a ring. Wings w ith a weak brownish tinge,
unj)atterned ; ])rearcular field ])aler ; veins pale brown. \ enation : Sci
ending nearly opi)osite h'j: h's relativeh long, subecjual to vein /v'a ;
cell Isl .!/•-■ cl(jsed, ;;; transvei'se, basal section of .1/;: subecpial in length.
(jblic|ue, cell /.s7 .!/■.' shorter than anv of the veins bexond it ; ;;;-("/( at
the fork of M ; vein 2u(1 .1 sinuous on its outer third.

Abdomen chiefix daik brown, includins.; most of the byi)opygium.
Male hvjK)])\gium ol the normal txpe of the subgenus. Two disti-
slvles. the oiner one in-ofoundh' bil'id, its base dilated: both branches
slender, tlu' outer one more so. at its apex terminating in lour or five
short crowded teeth; inner or .ixi.d branch gradually narroweil to the
acute tip; inner style of about the same shape and curvature as the

The Great Basin Naturalist
KXJ CHAKI.KS ['. AJ.KXANDKK Vol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

inner branch of the outer style, its lower or concave margin on distal
half with about five small scattered denticles. Gonapophyses appear-
ing as flattened pale blades, a little dilated on distal half, the tips acute;
surface of blades with faint longitudinal striolae.

Habitat. — Washington.

HoLOTYPE, J*, Mount Rainier, Paradise Park, August 1917 (Melan-
der). Paratopotype, $, Mazama Ridge, July 23, 1922 (Melander) ;
in Melander Collection.

This unusually distinct fly is dedicated to Dr. Axel Leonard Melan-
der, who has added vastly to our knowledge of distribution of the
Diptera throughout the United States. The species is entirely differ-
ent from all others in the Nearctic region, especially in the unpatterned
wings and closed cell 1st Ah.

Ormosia (Ormosia) pugetensis Alexander, sp. n.

Belongs to the si}}iilis group; general coloration light brown; an-
tennae (male) elongate, approximately two-thirds the length of the
body, the individual flagellar segments strongly narrowed outwardly;
wings with cell il/2 open by the atrophy of the basal section of Ms ;
anal veins confluent or subparallel on their outer portions ; male hy-
popygium with the margins of the tergal lobes erose, with conspicuous
setae ; gonapophyses black, both pairs simple and acutely pointed, the
outer pair unusually long and slender.

Male. — Length about 5 mm. ; wing 5.2 mm. ; antenna about 3.5 mm.

Rostrum brown, palpi relatively elongate, darker brown. Antennae
(male) elongate; scape dark brown, pedicel obscure brownish yellow,
flagellum dark brown ; flagellar segments elongate, the proximal half
of each. dilated, thence narrowed very gradually to the apex, on the
more basal segments, the stem restrictedly darkened at tip. Head dark
gray.

Pronotum and pretergites obscure yellow, the former narrowly
more reddened medially. Mesonotum light brown to medium brown,
the tuberculate pits and pseudosutural foveae black; posterior sclerites
of notum more strongly infuscated on central portions, the medioter-
gite paling to yellow on sides ; pleurotergite yellow. Pleura uniformly
yellow. Halteres with stem pale, knob weakly infuscated. Legs with
the coxae and trochanters yellow ; remainder of legs brownish yellow
to light brown, the outer tarsal segments more strongly infuscated.
Wings broad, with a weak brownish tinge, the narrow costal border
and the stigma darker brown ; veins brown. Venation : Sc2 opposite
midlength of Rs ; 7?2+3 subequal to R2 ; cell M2 open by the atrophy of

Dec. 29. 1"M-1 w i;sTKU.\ .\K,\k( ik i iim;i.ii)ai:. ii. 101

basal section of il/s; ni-cii at fork of .17 ; vein 2nd A strongly sinuous
on its outer half, narrowing cell Isl .1.

Abdomen, including liypopygiuni, dark brown. Male hypopygium
with the tergite conspicuous, its caudal border deeply emarginate, the
lateral lobes divergent, their margins irregular or erose, fringed with
long setae. Dististyles almost as in other species of the group. Gona-
pophyses distinctive, two on either side, both pairs heavily blackened;
outer pair appearing as unusually long and slender curved spines, di-
rected niesad ; inner or more cephalic ap(jphyses shorter and stouter
but likewise acutely pointed. The gonapophyses are of quite different
conformation from those of either dcciissata or longicornis.

Habitat. — Western Washington.

HoLOTYPE, J", Puget, Thurston Co., July 4, 1925 (^Melanderj.

Ormosia (Ormosia) /'w^£'/^«.yi\y is most similar to O. (O.) dcciissata
Alexander and to what I have determined as being O. (O.) longicornis
(Doane), possibly erroneously (not having been able to examine the
type). The present ily is readily told from these forms l>y the struc-
ture of the male hypoj)ygium, particularly the gonapophyses.

Molophilus (Molophilus) subnitens Alexander, sp. n.

Belongs to the gracilis group, nitidiis subgroup; size large (wing,
male, 6 mm. or more) ; general coloration of body and appendages
black; knobs of halteres light yellow; male hypopygium with mesal
lobe of basistyle produced into two small acute spines ; inner dististyle
with the long arms diverging only slightly, one arm dark-colored and
paddle-like, less than twice as wide as the yellow second arm.

Male. — Length about 5.2 - 5.6 mm. ; wing b - 6.8 mm. ; antenna
about 1.5 - 1.7 mm.

Characters generaly as in >iitidus, ditiering especially in the struc-
ture of the male hypopygium.

General coloration of the entire body black, the surface nitidous or
subnitidous. Palpi, antennae and legs black. Halteres with stem black,
knob light yellow. Wings a strong blackish suf fusi(jn ; A'2.3 long, from
one-third to one-half longer than the basal section of A's ; ni-cit oblique,
angulated below midlength.

Male hypopygium approximately as in nitidus but differing in all
details. Furcula of ninth tergite with the arms separated by a relatively
broad U-shaped notch that is wider than either arm, the latter approxi-
mately as long as the width of the stem across its base. Basistyle with
dorsal lobe a long, very slender spine ; mesal lobe bearing two small
acute spines that are separated by a U-shaped notch. Outer dististyle

Tlif (Meat Basin Naturalist
102 CHAkLKS I'. ALKXAXDKl^ \'ol. V, NoS. 3 & 4

a siniplt rod, dark bruAvn and stouter (jii its basal two-thirds, thence
narrowed into a long, gently curved black spine. Inner dististyle with
arms diverging at only a slight angle, one arm tipped with yellow, the
other paddle-shaped, uniformly darkened, subequal in length to and
less than twice as wide as the second arm. In nitidus, the stem of the
tergal furcula is much narrower across base; basistyle with a single
niesal spine, but this of unusual length and slenderness ; apical arms
of inner dististyle greatly disproportionate in width, the broader one
being approximately three times as wide as the narrow^ blade.

Habitat. — Eastern Washington.

HoLOTYPE, J*, Valleyford, Spokane Co., May 29, 1921 (^Melander ) ;
in Melander Collection. Paratopotype, J^, in author's collection.

From the other large-sized member of the sul^group, Molophiliis
[Molophilus) nitidus Coquillett, the present fly differs in the hypopy-
gial characters as above outlined. 1 now know nitidus from western
Washington, western Oregon and northwestern California (Humboldt
Co. ; type-locality ) .

Molophilus (Molophilus) nitidulus Alexander, sp. n.

Belongs to the gracilis group, nitidus subgroup; size relatively small
(wing. male, about .^ mm. ) ; general coloration black, the lateral angles
of the pronotal scutellum obscure orange-yellow ; knobs of halteres
yellow ; male hypopygium with the furcula of the ninth tergite having
short and broad arms ; dorsal lobe of basistyle very slender, needle-
like ; mesal lobe bearing two small and inconspicuous, unequal spines,
one short and peglike ; outer dististyle a straight blade, flattened and
twisted at near midlength ; inner dististyle with both apical arms short
and broad.

Male. — Length ab(nit 4.3 — 1. 6 mm.; wing 4.9 - 5.1 mm.

Rostrum and palpi l)lack. Antennae black throughout, short; flag-
ellar segments oval, the outer ones more elongate. Head black, the
surface sparsely pruinose.

Pronotum black, the lateral angles of the scutellum obscure orange
yellow. Mesonotum black, the surface subnitidous; pseudosutural
foveae and tuberculate pits black. Pleura and pleurotergite black,
sparsely pruinose. Halteres with stem light brown, knob light yellow.
Legs with the coxae and trochanters black ; remainder of legs brown-
ish black. Wings with a strong blackish tinge, the veins darker than
the ground ; a whitish streak along vein M to beyond its fork. Vena-
tion : A'2 lying shortly beyond the level of r-ni ; 7?2+3 arcuated, in the
paratype angulated and short-spurred ; petiole of cell Ms a little longer

I Km.-. 2''. 1* '4-1 \\ i-.sTKK.x .\|-,,\K(ri( riiMi,ii>.\i.. ii. 1().>

than the .sinuous Di-nt; vein Jiul .1 nioclcraleh sinuous, tcrniinatinj.,'
opposite the posterior end of ni-cii.

Abdomen, incliuhns^- liy])opvi^iinn. dark l)i"(t\\n. .Male lu pojix L;iurii
havinj^f the j^eniTal structure' of the nitidus i.(roup, (Htierinj.^ from all
allied species in the details, h'urcula of the ninth terf,nte with the arms
shorter and broader than in other si)ecies. each about as lon^ as the
width across the base of the stem. ISasistxle with its dorsal lobe \ er\
slender, almost needle-like, from a dilated basal portion, at its orijjjin
bent at virtually a right angle; mesal region of style bearing two spines,
one a small, inconspicuous, slender one, the second still smaller, peg-
like. Outer distislyle a straigiit blade. Ilatlened and twisted at near
midlength. thence narrowed to the acute tip. Innei" dististxle with
both apical blades short and l)road.

Habitat. — I'^astern Washington.

Hoi.crrYi'K, J', Almota, Whitman Co.. May 20. 192.'^ (Melander):
in Melander Collection. PAKAToroTVPE, 1 J*, in author's collection.

Molophilus {III olopliihts ^ iiifiduliis is well-distinguished from the
other described members of the nitidus subgroup l)y the relativel\
small size and b}- the hypojngial characters, as above defmed. It is
l)erhaps closest to M. (.1/.) iiiillardi Ale.xancU'r. of southern California.

INDEX TO VOJA'MK \

Species described in this volume appear in hold-face type in this index.

Alexander. Charles P.. article by, 93.

Disposition of the types of the genus
Hypsiglena, .v.

Erioptera melanderiana Alexander, 99.
I'.uropean Earwig found in Provo, Utah,

Four devastatinc melanopli found in
Utah. 1.

General summary, Hypsiglena, 82.
Genus Hypsiglena Cope, 32.
Genus Leptodeira Fitzinger, i2.
Genus Pseudoleptoderia Taylor, 31.
Gonomyia lindseyi Alexander, 9.
Grasshopper control in Utah. 18.

Henderson. Dr. William Williams

(1879-1944). 23.
Henderson, W. W., article by, 1.
Hypsiglena affinis Boulenger, 46.

dunkiei Taylor, 48.

O. ochrorhynchus Cope, ,S4.

O. deserticola W. Tanner, ,^9.

O. janii ( Duges), 48.

O. klauberi W. Tanner, 71.

O. lorealus W. Tanner, 63.

O. michalatus W. Tanner, 63.

O. texana .^tejneger, 51.

O. unaocularus W. Tanner, 74.

O. venusta Mocquard, 67.

O. tortugaensis W. Tanner, 69.

slevini Tanner, 80.
torquata (Gunther), 40.

Key to the Genera, Hypsiglena. 30.
Key to the species and subspecies of
Hypsiglena. 38.

Timnophila modoc .Alexander, 96.

Melanoplus bivittatus (Say), 9.

femur-rubrum (DeGeer), 14.

M. me.xicanus (Saussure), 2.

packardii (Scudder), 6.
Molophilus nltidulus Alexander, 103.
Molophilus subnitens Alexander, 102.

Ormosia pugetensis .Mexander, 100.
Other destructive grasshoppers, 2.

Summary of the Ochrorhynchus group,
76.

.Synonymy chart for the genera Hypsi-
glena, Leptodeira, and Pseudolepto-
deira, 35.

Tanner, V. M., articles by, 22, 23.
Tanner, W. W., article by, 25.
Tipula sacra Alexander, 93.

Undescribed species of western nearctic
Tipulidae (Diptera). TT., 93.

Date of mailing Nos. 1 and 2 — January 22. 1945.

Date of printing and mailing Nos. 3 and 4 — September, 1946.

Note.— The paper dealing with Hypsiglnca was i)ractically finished and as-
signed to Volume V in 1944, but due to war conditions not under our control, it
has been impossible to get Nos. 3 and 4 published until the present time. Several
articles that appeared in 1945 are referred to in this paper. It is hoped that the
reconversion program will make it possible for tlic printing and distribution of
this publication to proceed on schedule. — Editor.

105

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

Largest private institution of higher learning in the Intermountain
Region, Brigham Young University is organized into five colleges, three
divisions, and the graduate school. Four quarters of instruction are
provided annually.

Colleges of Applied Science
Arts and Sciences
Commerce
Education
Fine Arts

Divisions of Religion
Research
Extension

Graduate School

Summer School

Departments of Instruction

Accounting and Business

Administration
Agricultural Economics
Agronomy
Animal Husbandry
Art

Bacteriology

Bible and Modern Scripture
Botany
Chemistry
Church History
Church Organization and

Administration
Economics

Educational Administration
Elementary Education
English

Finance and Banking
Geology and Geography
History
Home Economics

Horticulture and Landscape

Architecture
Journalism
Library
Marketing
Mathematics
Mechanic Arts

Modern and Classical Languages
Music

Office Practice
Physical Education
Physics

Political Science
Philosophy of Education
Psychology
Secondary Education
Sociology
Speech
Theology and Religious

Philosophy
Zoology and Entomology

NATIONALLY ACCREDITED

For further information, write

The President

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

Provo, Utah

*tw CINTURT miNTINe CO., rKovo, utam