100 CORONELLA SAYI. 



The nostrils are lateral and near the snout. The eyes are prominent, the pupil 

 dark, the iris grey. The neck is but slightly contracted. 



The body is cylindrical, and covered with smooth sub-hexagonal scales above, 

 as well as on the neck, where they are much smaller. The tail is short, thick at 

 its root, but soon becomes smaller, and terminates in a horny point; the scales of 

 the tail are large, but shorter in proportion than those of the back. 



Colour. The head is bluish-black above; each plate with one or more 

 yellowish-white oblong spots; the superior labial plates are yellowish or milky- 

 white, each with a black border at either end, where two adjoining plates meet, 

 which gives a banded appearance to the upper jaw. Every scale of the neck, 

 body and tail is marked with a milky-white oblong spot, most commonly in the 

 centre, but sometimes near the border, so that those of neighbouring scales come 

 nearly in contact, or three or four appear in clusters together; these spots are 

 largest low down on the flanks. The plates of the throat and abdomen are milk- 

 white, each with a black spot, either a square or parallelogram; sometimes these 

 spots are placed in the centre of the plate, and at others near their lateral 

 extremities. In the posterior half of the body the black prevails; the last plate is 

 however entirely white. 



Dimensions. Length of head, 1 inch 3 lines; greatest breadth, 1 inch; length 

 of body, 40 inches; length of tail beyond vent, 6 inches 2 lines: total length, 3 

 feet 11 inches 5 lines. 



In the specimen here described there are 205 abdominal plates, and 53 sub- 

 caudal scales, with a small horn at the tip of the tail. 



Habits. I am ignorant of the habits of this serpent, never having seen but 

 one specimen alive. 



Geographical Distribution. The Coronella Sayi seems to be widely extended 



