ZAMENIS 171 



more or less bell-shaped, not or but little broader 

 than the supraocular, once and two-thirds to twice 

 as long as broad, as long as or a little longer than 

 its distance from the end of the snout, a little 

 shorter than the parietals. Loreal as long as deep 

 or longer. One preocular (rarely two), extending to 

 the upper surface of the head, but never in contact 

 with the frontal ; a small subocular below the pre- 

 ocular ; two postoculars (rarely three). Temporals 

 2 + 2 or 2 + 3 

 (rarely 1 + 2). 

 Upper labials 

 eight, fourth and 

 fifth entering the 

 eye, fifth and 

 seventh deepest. 

 Five lower labials 



(rarely four) in 



.,1 ,1 Fig. 19 (after Sordelli) 



c >ntact with the v ' 



anterior chin-shields, which are usually shorter than 



+ he posterior. 



Scales with two apical pits, in nineteen (rarely 

 seventeen or twenty-one) rows. Ventral shields 

 more or less distinctly angulate laterally, 160 to 230 

 (usually under 200 in the typical form and the var. 

 caspius, 190 or more in the vars. viridiflavus and 

 asianus) ; anal divided ; subcaudals 87 to 131. 



Coloration. — In the typical Z. gemonensis the upper 

 parts are yellowish-brown or pale olive, anteriorly 



