ELAPHIS SAUROMATES. 241 



the second on the fronto-vertical suture ; both these cross bands are united into one behind 

 the eye, running from the orbit to the angle of the mouth ; a third large blotch occupies 

 the crown of the head, emitting two divergent streaks behind. Belly white with black spots, 

 the spots being sometimes small, sometimes subquadrangular, and occupying more than one- 

 half of the ventral and subcaudal shields. 



This species was known from the western parts of Asia, but it appears to extend through 

 entire Central Asia to China, where (at Pekin) it has been found by Mr. Swinhoe. These 

 Chinese specimens agree completely with others collected at the foot of the Caucasus. Our 

 longest specimen is a male, 39 inches long, the tail measuring S^ inches. 



Elaphis SAUROMATES. (Plate XXI. fig. E.) 



Coluber sauromates, Pall. Zoogr. Ross.-As. iii. p. 42. Nordm,. inDemid. Voy. Russ. Merid., Rept. 



pi. 7. 

 Elaphis pareyssii, {Fit~.) Wagl. Icon. tab. 25. 



Tropidonotus sauromates, Eichiv. Faun. Casp.-Caucas. pi. 25. figs. 1 & 2. 

 Elaphis sauromates, Dum. ^ Bibr. vii. p. 288. Gilnth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 93. 



Body and tail of moderate length, the former scarcely compressed ; head rather depressed, 

 flat, with the snout obtusely rounded ; eye of moderate size, superciliary somewhat projecting. 

 Rostral broader than high ; anterior frontals more than half as large as posterior ; vertical 

 pentagonal, with the lateral margins convergent. Occipitals of moderate extent. Loreal 

 longer than high ; two prseoculars, 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 coming into the orbit. Temporals 2 -f- 3, the anterior somewhat 

 elongate. The anterior chin-shields are in contact with four lower labials. Scales keeled, 

 in 23-25 series. Ventrals 204-214, slightly bent upwards on the sides; anal bifid; sub- 

 caudals 64-82. Each maxillary is armed with ten to fourteen teeth of equal size. Anterior 

 part of the trunk with broad black cross bands, separated from each other by narrow yellow 

 interspaces, and more or less confluent on the hinder part of the trunk. In the Chinese 

 variety the scales within the black cross bands and on the posterior half of the trunk and on 

 the tail have a yellow central streak or spot, whilst the scales between the bands are yellow 

 with a black central streak. A black temporal band in specimens from Western Asia, absent 

 in the Chinese variety, which has the head-shields yellow, edged with black. Belly yellow ; 

 in the Chinese specimen marbled with black, and entia-ely black posteriorly. 



This species appears to have the same geographical range as E. dione, viz. from the shores 

 of the Caspian Sea to the most eastern parts of China. Our specimen is from Ningpo, and 

 having compared it with an example from Shirvan, presented by Professor Peters to the 

 British Museum, I do not, at present, consider the differences between them of sufficient 

 value to distuiguish them specifically. It has the scales very strongly keeled, and is 57 inches 

 long, the tail measuring 12 inches. I have given two views of its head, of the natural size. 



