ERYX 149 



reduce the ground colour to small yellowish spots ; 

 one, two, or three short, dark stripes often present on 

 the nape ; a dark streak from the eye to the angle of 

 the mouth ; sometimes a dark curved band from eye 

 to eye across the upper surface of the snout. Lower 

 parts yellowish-white, uniform or with small blackish 

 spots. 



Size. — 2 \ feet is the greatest length which this 

 snake is known to attain. 



Distribution. — Originally described from Lower 

 Egypt, and extending westwards to Algeria, this 

 Eryx has been found in Greece, in Corfu, in the 

 Cyclades, in Turkey, and in Roumania. It occurs 

 also in Asia Minor, in Transcaucasia, in Trans- 

 caspia, in Northern Persia, and in Syria. It has 

 been found at an altitude of 5,000 feet in Persia, to 

 the west of Lake Urmia. A closely allied form 

 (E. miliaris, Pallas), which has been confounded with 

 this species, extends from Transcaspia to Turkestan 

 and Afghanistan. 



The reported occurrence of this snake in Bulgaria 

 is based on a specimen labelled " Bulgaria (?) " in the 

 Sofia University Museum. The species is omitted 

 from KovatschefPs latest list of Bulgarian Reptiles. 



Habits. — This diminutive Boid is a burrower in 

 arid, sandy districts, appearing only early in the 

 morning or towards dusk ; it is as a rule more 

 crepuscular than nocturnal. Notwithstanding its 

 rather heavy form, it is capable of very quick move- 



