ZAMENIS. 323 



drical ; scales smooth, without apical pits, in 19 rows ; ventrals 

 obtusely angulate laterally ; tail moderate ; subcaudals in two rows. 

 Distribution. Three species are known : L. duidema, D. & B., 

 ranging from Algeria to Persia ; L. ridgewayi, Blgr., from Afghani- 

 stan and Turkestan ; and L. paradoxus, Grthr., from Siud. Desert 

 snakes, adapted for burrowing in the sand. 



395. Lytorhynclras paradoxns. 



Acontiopliis paradoxa, Giinth. P. Z. S. 1875, p. 232, tig. ; Murray, 

 A. M. N. H. (o) xiv, 1884, p. 110. 



Snout long and acutely pointed ; rostral with a lateral cleft ; 

 suture between the iuternasals shorter than that between the prae- 

 frontals and shorter than the upper part of the rostral ; frontal 

 nearly as long as its distance from the end of the snout, as long as 

 the parietals : supraocular narrow ; three praeoculars ; two post- 

 oculars ; temporals 2 + 2 or 2+3 ; upper labials 8, fifth entering the 

 eye ; 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which 

 are shorter^but much broader than the 'posterior. Scales in 19 rows. 

 Ventrals slightly angulate laterally, 169-175 ; anal divided ; sub- 

 caudals 40-53. Cream-colour above, with a dorsal series of trans- 

 verse brown spots and a less distinct lateral series of smaller spots 

 on each side ; a large rhomboidal brown spot on the back of the 

 head, and a brown band behind the eye ; lower parts white. 



Total length 14 inches ; tail 2-3. 



Hob. Sind. 



Genus ZAMENIS, 

 Wagler, Syst. Ainph. p. 188, 1830. 



Maxillary teeth 12 to 20, increasing in size posteriorly ; inan- 

 dibular teeth subequal. Head elongate, distinct from neck ; eye 

 moderate or large, with round pupil ; head- shields normal, with 

 one or more suboculars. Body elongate, cylindrical ; scales smooth 

 or feebly keeled, with apical pits, in 15 to 31 rows ; ventrals 

 rounded or with an obtuse lateral keel; tail long; subcaudals 

 divided. 



Distribution. Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The species 

 number about 20. As their name implies, these snakes are mostly 

 of fierce disposition, though not always, Z. ventrimaculatus and 

 especially Z. diadema being the reverse ; they are terrestrial or 

 subarboreal and feed principally on mammals and birds. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Posterior chin-skields iu contact anteriorly. 



a. Scales in 15 rows ; ventrals 162-177 Z. korros, p. 324. 



6. Scales in 17 rows ; ventrals 190-208 Z. mucosus, p. 324. 



Y2 



