ZAMENIS 



179 



seeks dry, bushy localities, and feeds on small lizards, 

 occasionally on locusts. It does not seem to be very 

 common anywhere in Europe, except perhaps in 

 Dalmatia, whence most of the specimens sold by 

 dealers are imported. 



Reproduction. — The pairing has been observed at 

 the end of May. According to Werner, the eggs 

 number usually three only, measuring ij inches by 

 \ inch. 



8. Zamenis hippocrepis, Linnaeus 

 The Horseshoe Whip-Snake 



Form. — Slender ; snout obtuse, feebly prominent. 

 Tail one-fifth to one-fourth of the total length. 



Head-Shields. — Rostral once and one-third to once 

 and a half as broad as deep, the portion visible 

 from above mea- 

 suring about 

 one - fourth to 

 one - third its 

 distance from 

 the frontal. 

 Frontal bell - 

 shaped, consid- 

 erably broader 

 in front than the 



Fig. 21 (after Sordelli) 



supraocular, once and one-fourth to once and a half 

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

 distance from the end of the snout, shorter than the 



