COLUBER 183 



lower labials in contact with the anterior chin- 

 shields, which are longer than the posterior. 



Scales feebly but distinctly keeled, except on the 

 outer rows, with two apical pits, in twenty-five (rarely 

 twenty-three or twenty-seven) rows. Ventral shields 

 not or but very obtusely angulate laterally, 195 to 

 234 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 56 to go. 



Coloration. — Young (Plate VI., top) with three or 

 five alternating longitudinal series of dark brown, 

 black-edged spots on a yellowish, grey, or pale 

 brown ground, the spots of the median series largest, 

 transversely elliptical or rhomboidal; a dark streak 

 across the forehead, black bars on the labial shields, 

 and a black oblique streak from the eye to the angle 

 of the mouth. In specimens from Italy and the 

 countries bordering the Adriatic (the typical C. 

 quatuorlineatus) the markings very gradually disappear 

 with age, with the exception of the temporal streak, 

 whilst a pair of black streaks appear along each side 

 of the body, at a short distance from the head, the 

 lower corresponding to the postocular streak, the 

 adult being brown without spots, but four-lined 

 (Plate VI., second figure). In more eastern specimens 

 (C. sauromates, Pallas), which may be regarded as 

 representing the original form, the markings of the 

 young persist throughout life, or, if they disappear, 

 they are not replaced by dark streaks (Plate VI., 

 third figure). Lower parts pale yellow, closely 

 spotted or marbled with brown, these markings 



