ZAOCTS. 329 



Hub. North-West Provinces, Bajputana, Sind, Punjab, and 

 Kashmir, northwards to Turkestan and westwards to the Algerian 

 Sahara. 



404. Zamenis arenarins. 



Very closely allied to Z. diadema, but distinguished by the much 

 larger rostral, which is considerably deeper than broad and wedged 

 in far between the internasals ; the portion of the rostral visible 

 from above measures two thirds its distance from the frontal. 

 Three or four praefrontals in a transverse row ; frontal nearly as 

 long as its distance from the end of the snout, shorter than the 

 parietals; three or four loreals; two praeoculars, three postoculars, 

 and three suboculars separating the eye from the labials; temporals 

 small, scale-like ; 10 upper labials ; 5 lower labials in contact with 

 the anterior chin-shields, which are as long as the posterior. 

 Scales obtusely keeled, in 25 to 27 rows. Ventrals not angulate 

 laterally. Cream-colour or pale buff with darker spots disposed 

 quincuncially, and a longitudinal streak on each side of the nape ; 

 lower parts uniform white. 



The two specimens at hand consist each merely of the head and 

 anterior part of the body, but indicate a snake four feet long. 

 One is from Karachi, presented by Mr. J. A. Murray; the other, 

 labelled Sind, was found in the collection presented to the British 

 Museum by the late Mr. F. Day. 



Genus ZAOCYS, 

 Cope, Proc. Acad. Philad. 1860, p. 563. 



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

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

 rather large, with round pupil ; head-shields normal, with a sub- 

 ocular beneath the prseocular. Body elongate, compressed ; scales 

 smooth or keeled, with apical pits, in 14 or 16 rows ; ventrals 

 rounded ; tail long ; subcaudals divided. 



Distribution. Southern China, Himalayas and Khasi Hills, Upper 

 Burma, Malay Peninsula, Borneo. Four species are distin- 

 guished. 



405. Zaocys nigromarginatus. 



Coluber nigromarginatus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxiii, 1854, p. 290. 

 Zaocys nigromarginatus, Giinth. Kept. B. I. p. 257, pi. xxii, fig. B ; 



Theob. Cat. p. 172. 

 Coryphodon dnumnades (non Cant.}, Jan, Icon. Ophicl. 24, pi. iv, 



fig. 1. 



Rostral broader than deep, visible from above ; suture between 

 the internasals shorter than that between the prffifrontals ; frontal 

 as long as or a little shorter than its distance from the end of the 

 snout or than the parietals ; loreal a little longer than deep ; o\ie 

 praeocular, with a subocular beneath, wedged in between the third 

 and fourth upper labials ; two post oculars ; temporals 2 + 2 ; upper 



