802 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVIll. 



Contia coronella. 



Eight specimens, the largest (No. 1) 1 foot 2 inches, tail Sc- 

 inches. 



The reduction of scales from 15 to 13 is due to a confluence of the 

 3rd and 4th rows above the ventrals. 



The constancy of the costal rows in the genus Contia as far as I 

 know it, is such that I cannot help thinking that more than one 

 (possibly three) distinct species are summed up by Mr. Boulenger 

 under the title coronella (vide Catalogue Vol. II, p. 264). Hitherto 

 it has only been recorded from Syria, but the extension of the habitat 

 to the further limit of the Euphrates-Tigris basin is only in conso- 

 nance with other forms. 



Series B— OPISTHOGLYPHA. 

 Subfamily — Dipsadomokphin^e. 

 Tarbophis tessellatvs, spec. nov. 



A single specimen, in 5 fragments. Length about 18 inches ? 



Description. Costals. — 2 heads lengths after head 21, midbody 21, 

 2 heads lengths before the vent 17. Absorption. — From 21 to 19 

 uncertain; from 19 to 17 the 8th and 9th rows coalesce on the right 

 side. Vertebral not enlarged. Ultimate row enlarged. Keels 

 absent. Apical pits single, and very evident. Ventrals. — 243, very 

 distinctly angulate. Anal entire. Subcaudals 75 divided. 



