192 



COLUBRID.E 



eight (rarely seven), fourth and fifth (rarely third and 

 fourth) entering the eye. Four or five lower labials in 

 contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are 



longer than the 

 posterior. 



Scales smooth, 

 with two apical 

 pits, in twenty- 

 five or twenty- 

 seven r o ws . 

 Ventral shields 

 rounded, not 

 fig. 25 (after Sordelli) angulate later- 



ally, 222 to 260 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 68-90. 



Coloration. — Typical form (Plate VII., third figure) 

 greyish or pale brown above, with one dorsal series 

 of dark brown, reddish-brown, or bright red, black- 

 edged transverse spots and a lateral alternating 

 series of smaller black spots with or without lighter 

 centres ; usually a A-shaped dark marking on the 

 occiput and nape ; a crescentic black band from 

 eye to eye across the prefrontal shields, an oblique 

 black band from behind the eye to the angle of the 

 mouth, and a black spot or vertical bar below the 

 eye. Lower parts white, checkered with black, or 

 nearly entirely black. Iris reddish-golden. 



In some specimens (var. quadrilineatus) the dorsal 

 spots are replaced by two brown or red, black-edged 

 stripes bordering a pale greyish or yellowish vertebral 



