XIII 



COLUBRINAE 



615 



Islands, grows to 1 feet in length ; it is consequently one of 

 the largest harmless Colubrine snakes. Tlie scales form only 

 sixteen to eighteen rows. The sub-caudals are double. Tht- 

 general colour above is dark olive, passing into greenish brown 



Fig. 162. — Zaocys carinatus. x\. 



farther back. Tlie under parts are yellowish ; black and yellow 

 posteriorly. The fiftli and sixtli labials border the eye. 



Coluber. — 'JMie maxillary teeth are of e(iual size, but the 

 anterior mandil)ular teeth are the longest. The head is distinct 

 from the neck. The nasals are distinct ; not fused with the 

 loreals. The eye is rather large, with a round pupil. The 

 scales, smooth or keeled, have apical pits ; the ventrals are 

 inimded or angulate laterally ; the sub-caudals are double. They 

 all lay eggs and constrict their food. Nearly fifty species in the 

 Periarctic region. 



C. {Elaphis) quatuorlineahis s. quaterradiatus inhal:>its Italy 

 aiul Soutli-Eastern Europe. It occurs also in the Southern 

 Tvrol. The scales of this larsje snake, which ^rows to nearlv 

 G feet in length, are arranged in twenty-five rows, and are feebly 



