14^ ON THE PHYSIOGNOMY OF SERPENTS. 



relieved by three or five ranges of spots, of which the 

 nii(hlle ones are very large, and more or less orbicular. 

 A bifurcated black mark on the occiput, and a band be- 

 tween the eyes. Below deep yellow, with square, alter- 

 nate, black markings. 



Coluber leopardinus. — System of colouring analogous 

 to that of Coluber guttatus, with this exception, that the 

 spots on the back are smaller, and often confluent. Shape 

 more delicate than the preceding; head as in the Coluber 

 iEsculapii ; twenty-three rows of smooth scales. S. 240 + 75. 

 Inhabits the south-east of Europe, and northern Africa. 



27. Coluber conspillatus. — Very analogous to the 

 last, in the system of its colours, but with a more heavy 

 shape ; it has larger scales, and several little frenal plates ; 

 transverse bands instead of spots on the trunk ; a club- 

 siiaped spot, preceded by an angular mark, on tlie occiput ; 

 twenty-one rows of scales. S. 210 + 68. Native of 

 Japan. 



The limits of the genus Coluber, so rich in species, 

 will some day be, no doubt, considerably extended, when 

 we can arrive at a more accurate knowledge of the nu- 

 merous species superfcially indicated by travellers. I 

 shall only quote the following : — (1.) Coluber atro- 

 Fuscus of Daudin, vi. p. 285, rests on the authority 

 of the delineation of the head and posterior of the body 

 of a snake, mentioned by Russel. (2.) Coluber ob- 

 scurus of Daudin, vi. p. S63, established after Russel, 

 i. pi. 18. (3.) Coluber Plinii of Merrem, Tent, p. 

 101 ; the Coluber pictus of Daudin, vi.t 347, — names 

 which have for their type Russel's pi. 29, vol. i. : this 

 species is probably identical with the Coluber Triscalis 

 of Linn^us, from which the Coluber corallinus of the 

 same author, figured in Seha, ii. pi. 17, § 1, appears not to 

 differ ; a good figure of Coluber Triscalis is found in 

 Seha^ ii. 38, 3. — Schlegel, part ii. 



