INNOCUOUS SEKPENTS. 133 



compressed and surrounded with 19 rows of scales : this 

 species is distinguished by four transverse black bands 

 which adorn the head. This species is, above, brown ; 

 below of a yellowish-grey. S. 185 + 70. 



17. Calamaria atrocincta. I have aiTanged in this 

 genus the present anomalous species, a native of Chile, 

 which approaches in form to certain Lycodons, but by the 

 distribution of its colours it recalls the Coronella venus- 

 tissima and the Elaps corallina. It has an angular abdo- 

 men, a body banded with red and black. Rows of scales, 

 15. S. 196 + 57. 



18. Calamaria Coronella. We come at last to this 

 species, which might at first be mistaken for a small, smooth 

 Coronella ; but its head is very thick, the frenal plates are 

 wanting, the occipitals are broad, its form is very massive ; 

 it has but 15 rows of scales. The general colour is a yel- 

 lowish-grey, passing to brown, and the upper parts are 

 marked by numerous dark transverse bands, but not very 

 distinct. 



In the Third Family of Innocuous Ophidians we have united 

 all the Terrestrial Serpents w^hich have not been included 

 in the two preceding families. With the exception of the 

 Heterodons, they present but few anomalies in their orga- 

 nization, and are modelled, so to speak, on the type of the 

 genus Coluber. The most of them have the head covered 

 by 9 plates, and the scales of middle size and smooth. 



The first genus is 



coronella. 



It comprehends species which in their organization re- 

 semble the true Colubers ; but they have a less size, a 

 more compressed trunk, generally pentagonal, and covered 

 with scales, for the most part smooth, and distributed in 

 seventeen to nineteen ranges ; a tail conical and rather 

 long. The genus Coronella inhabits the warm and tem- 

 perate climates of both worlds ; they have not hitherto been 

 observed in New Holland. They inhabit plains, and prefer 

 humid places. 



