JO THE LIBRARY Of THE MAR 9 1944. UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS ZOOLOGICAL SERIES OF FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Volume 29 CHICAGO, FEBRUARY 29, 1944 No. 8 SNAKES OF THE HOOGSTRAAL EXPEDITIONS TO NORTHERN MEXICO BY HOB ART M. SMITH DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OP ROCHESTER During the summers of 1938, 1939, and 1940 parties of students of the University of Illinois under the leadership of Mr. Harry Hoogstraal collected a number of reptiles and amphibians in north-eastern Mexico. These were secured either as an integral part of biological surveys (as in Nuevo Leon) undertaken by Mr. Hoog-straal, or as the party was en route to or from other areas where more intensive work was in progress. The specimens are now incor-porated in the reference collections of Field Museum. This report concerns only the snakes. Although these are not numerous, 23 species are represented among the 53 specimens. Among them is an extraordinary number of very unusual or noteworthy specimens. One new race has already been described and a new species is named herein. Equally as important are notable range extensions of six species, and additional specimens that shed considerable light upon the variation and relationships of three other species. Knowing my interest in Mexican snakes, Mr. Karl P. Schmidt of Field Museum generously suggested that I submit a report on this collection. I am greatly indebted to him and to Mr. Clifford H. Pope, also of Field Museum, for the privilege of doing so. Leptotyphlops dulcis Baird and Girard Reno, dulcis Baird and Girard, Cat. N. Amer. Kept., pt. 1, p. 142, 1853 between San Pedro and Comanche Springs, Texas. Leptotyphlops dulcis Stejneger, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 14, p. 501, 1891. Hidalgo: Jacala (34412). No. 553 135 NAT. U.OFU.UB, HfST -
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