EXTERNAL CHARACTERS 25 



*■* Ventrals not more than 200 ; scales 



mostly with a single apical pit. 



Rostral at least as deep as broad, often wedged in 



between the internasals ; usually 7 upper labials, 



third and fourth entering the eye ; scales in 19 



(rarely 21) rows; ventrals 153-199; subcaudals 



41-70 Coronclla austriaca. 



Rostral broader than deep ; usually 8 upper labials, 

 fourth and fifth entering the eye; scales in 21 

 (rarely 19 or 23) rows ; ventrals 170-200 ; sub- 

 caudals 49-72 Coronclla girondica. 



b. A single anterior temporal ; nostril in a 

 single nasal ; scales smooth, with single 

 apical pits, in 17 rows; ventrals 150-191 ; 



subcaudals 53-78 Contia modesta. 



3. Scales longitudinally grooved in the adult, in 

 17 or 19 rows ; two loreals ; canthus rostralis 

 strongly marked; frontal very narrow, in 

 contact with the preocular; ventrals 160-189 ; 

 subcaudals 68-102 ... Caelopeltismonspessulana. 

 B. Pupil vertical or vertically subelliptic (some- 

 times appearing round in Macroprotodon). 

 1. Scales smooth, mostly with single apical pits ; 

 upper surface of head with nine large shields. 

 Frontal 1^ to 2 times as long as broad ; loreal sepa- 

 rated from the eye by the preocular ; one upper labial 

 usually in contact with the parietal ; scales in 19 to 

 23 (rarely 25) rows; ventrals 153-192; anal divided; 

 subcaudals 40-54 Macroprotodon cucullatus. 



