MACROPROTODON 215 



The above description is taken from Spanish 

 specimens (Badajos, Algeciras, Andalucia), but the 

 variations are very great when we take North Africa 

 into consideration. The nuchal band may be 

 narrow or broken up into spots, the median of 

 which sometimes forms a longitudinal streak, or 

 so much enlarged as to fuse with the dark markings 

 on the upper surface of the head ; in some specimens 

 (from Morocco and Algeria) the upper surface of the 

 head and the nape may be entirely ink black, or the 

 whole head black above and beneath with the excep- 

 tion of a whitish streak bordering the upper lip. 

 The dark streak from the eye to the angle of the 

 mouth may be absent, or reduced to a short oblique 

 streak below the eye. Irrespective of the variations 

 in the markings of the upper parts, the lower parts 

 may be more or less spotted with black, or immacu- 

 late. 



Some specimens of this small snake bear a general 

 resemblance to Coronella girondica, with which Macro- 

 protodon has sometimes been confounded. But a 

 careful examination of its whole structure shows it 

 to be more afnne to Ccelopeltis and Tarbophis, the 

 other European representatives of the Opisthogly- 

 phous Colubrids. 



Size. — The largest European specimen examined 

 measures 17J inches. Specimens up to 22 inches 

 long occur in Algeria and Tunisia. 



Distribution. — In Europe this snake is only known 



