240 OPHIDIA. 



ELAPHIS. 



Elaphis, sp., Aldrovandi. 



Body and tail generally elongate and compressed ; ventral shields 200 or 

 more in number ; head distinct from neck ; the length of the tail is less than 

 one-fourth of the total ; eye of moderate size, with round pupil ; nostril 

 lateral, between two shields ; shields of the head regular ; two pra^oculars, 

 the lower small. Scales keeled ; ventrals with a slight, or without any, 

 keel ; anal bifid. Maxillary teeth equal in size. 



The species of this genus belong to the European and Asiatic faunas ; the following are 

 found in British India : — 



Upper side of the head with oblique cross bands edged with black E. dione, p. 240. 



Head uniformly coloured above ; trunk with broad cross bands anteriorly ; tail 



without band E. sauromates, p. 241. 



Tail with a broad black lateral band E. tmniurus, p. 242. 



Elaphis dione. 



Coluber dione, Pall. Zoogr. Ross.-As. iii. pp. 39, 40. 



Coelopeltis dione, Eichw. Nouv. Mem. Nat. Mosc. 1842, vii. p. 151. tab. 28. 



Elaphis dione, Dum. ^ Bibr. vii. p. 248. Giinth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 92. 



Body of moderate length, compressed ; head and tail of moderate length ; snout obtuselj' 

 rounded. Rostral broader than high ; anterior frontals half as large as posterior, pentagonal, 

 with two anterior margins. Vertical rather large, pentagonal, with the lateral margins con- 

 vergent, and with a rather acute angle behind. Occipitals somewhat longer than vertical, 

 slightly pointed behind. Loreal rather longer than high ; two prsaeoculars, the lower of 

 which is small, the upper extending on to the upper surface of the head, but not reaching the 

 vertical. Two postoculars. Eight low upper labials, the fourth and fifth of which enter the 

 orbit. Temporals 2 + 3, the posterior scale-like. Scales on the back slightly keeled, in 

 twenty-five series. Ventrals 200-203, scarcely bent upwards on the sides ; anal bifid ; sub- 

 caudals 63-78. Each maxillary is armed with from ten to twelve teeth of equal size. Upper 

 parts brownish or yellowish olive, minutely speckled with red ; two series of irregular black 

 rings along the back, the rings of the two series sometimes confluent and forming transverse 

 markings ; generally a light band along each side of the back, and sometimes a third along 

 the vertebral line, dividing the two series of rings. Sides with two other series of uTegular 

 small black spots. Head with brown oblique cross bands edged with black ; generally 

 only the black edges are visible : one across the anterior frontals, bent backwards to the eye ; 



