. ZAMENIS. 



323 



drical ; scales smooth, without apical pits, in 19 rows ; veutrals 

 obtusely augulate laterally ; tail moderate ; subcaudals in two I'ows. 

 Distribution. Three species are known : L. diadema, D. & B., 

 ranging from Algeria to Persia ; L. ridgewai/i, Blgr., from Afghani- 

 stan and Tiu-kestan ; and L. iKwadoxus, Gthr., from Sind. Desert 

 snakes, adapted for burrowing in the sand. 



395. Lytorhynchus paradoxus. 



Acoutiophis paradoxa, Giinth. P. Z. S. 1875, p. 232, fig. ; Murray, 

 A. M. N. H. (o) xiv, 1881, p. 110. 



Snout long and acutely pointed ; rostral with a lateral cleft ; 

 suture between the iuternasals shorter than that between the prse- 

 frontals and shorter than the upper part of the rostral ; frontal 

 nearly as long as its distance from the end of the snout, as long as 

 the parietals : supraocular narrow ; three praeociUars ; two post- 

 uculars ; temporals 2 + 2 or 2 + 3 ; upper labials 8, fifth entering the 

 eye ; 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which 

 are shorter^but much broader than the 'posterior. Scales in 19 rows. 

 Veutrals slightly augulate laterally, 169-175 ; anal divided ; sub- 

 caudals 40-53. Cream-colour above, with a dorsal series of trans- 

 verse brown spots and a less distinct lateral series of smaller spots 

 ou each side ; a large rliomboidal brown s])ot on the back of the 

 head, and a brown baud behind the eye; lo\N'er parts while. 



Total leugth 14 inches ; tail 2-3. 



Ilah. Sind. 



Genus ZAMENIS, 

 Wagler, Syst. Amph. p. 188, 1830. 



Maxillary teeth 12 to 20, increasing in size posteriorly ; man- 

 dibular teeth subequal. Head elongate, distinct from neck ; eye 

 moderate or large, with round pupil ; head- shields normal, with 

 one or more suboculars. Body elongate, cyhudrical ; scales smooth 

 or feebly keeled, with apical pits, iu 15 to 31 rows ; ventrals 

 rouuded or with an obtuse lateral keel ; tail long ; subcaudals 

 divided. 



Distribution. Europe, Asia, aud North Africa. The species 

 number about 20. As their name implies, these snakes are mostly 

 of tierce disposition, though not always, Z. ventrimaoidatus aud 

 especially Z. diadema being the reverse ; they are terrestrial or 

 subarboreal aud feed priucipally on mammals and birds. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Posterior chiu-shields iu contact anteriorly. 



a. Scales iu 15 rows ; veutrals 162-177 ..'.... Z. korros, p. 324. 



b. Scales in 17 rows ; ventrals 190-208 Z. mucosus, p. 324. 



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