162 COLUBRID^ 



median streak to the frontal shield ; upper lip 

 yellowish, with dark bars on the sutures between the 

 shields. Lower parts whitish, yellow, orange, or 

 red, marbled or checkered with black, or nearly 

 entirely black. Iris golden, bronzy, or coppery red. 



Some specimens depart very strikingly from the 

 coloration thus briefly defined. We will now 

 mention the principal variations which have been 

 described : Sides of body checkered with black and 

 yellow or black and red (var. mbro-tnaculosus, 

 Diirigen). With four dark stripes along the anterior 

 part of the back (var. lineaticollis, Werner). Above 

 with four light streaks in addition to the dark 

 markings. Uniform grey or light brown above (var. 

 concolor, Jan, hagenbecki, Werner). Uniform black or 

 blackish (var. nigrescens, De Betta). The most 

 remarkable variety is the var. vosseleri, Werner, 

 from Asia Minor : above with small black and 

 yellowish spots, beneath yellowish with three blackish 

 stripes beginning at some distance from the head, 

 the median much weaker than the outer ; the scales 

 are less strongly keeled than in the typical form. 

 There are also specimens with two very regular 

 black stripes along the belly. 



A case of chlorochroism, in a specimen from Dal- 

 matia, has been observed by Peracca. The snake was 

 sulphur yellow with black markings ; a black band 

 along the belly; iris golden. 



An imperfect albino, which has been met with 



