zAocrs. 329 



Hah. North-West Provinces, Eajpiitaua, Sind, Punjab, and 

 Kashmir, northwards to Turkestan and westwards to the Algerian 

 Sahara. 



404. Zamenis arenariiis. 



Very closely allied to Z. diadema, but distinguished by the much 

 larger rostral, which is considerably deeper than broad aud wedged 

 in far between the internasals ; the portion of the rostral visible 

 from above measures two thirds its distance from the frontal. 

 Three or four pra'frontals in a transverse row ; frontal nearly as 

 long as its distance from the end of the snout, shorter than the 

 parietals; three or four 1 ureal s ; two pra?oculars, three postoculars, 

 and three suboculars separating the eye from the labials ; temporals 

 small, scale-like ; 10 upper labials ; F> lower labials in contact with 

 the anterior chin-shields, which are as long as the posterior. 

 Scales obtusely keeled, in 25 to 27 rows. Yentrals not angulate 

 laterally. Cream-colour or pale buff with darker spots disposed 

 quincuncially, and a longitudinal streak on each side of the nape ; 

 lower parts uniform white. 



The two specimens at hand consist each merely of the head and 

 anterior part of the body, but indicate a snake four feet long. 

 One is from Karaclii, presented by Mr. J. A. Murray; the other, 

 labelled Sind, was found in the collection presented to the British 

 Museum by the late iNIr. V. Day. 



Genus ZAOCYS, 

 Cope, Proc. Acad. Philad. 1860, p. 5G0. 



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

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

 rather large, with round pupil ; head-shields normal, with a sub- 

 ocular beneath the pra^ocular. Body elongate, compressed ; scales 

 smooth or keeled, with apical pits, in 14 or 10 rows : veutrals 

 rounded ; tail long ; subcaudals divided. 



Distribution. Southern China, Himalayas and Khasi Hills, Upper 

 Burma, Malay Peninsula, Borneo. Four species are distin- 

 guished. 



4(>."). Zaocys nigromarginatus. 



Coluber nigromarginatus, Blytlt, J. A. S. B. xxiii, 1854, p. 200. 

 Zaocys nigromarginatus, Gihith. Hept. U, I. p. 257, pi. xxii, tig. B ; 



riieoh. Cat. p. 172. 

 Corvphodon dhuniuades («o« Cant.), Ja/i, Icon. Ophid. 24, pi. iv, 



fig. 1. 



Eostral broader than deep, visible from above ; suture between 

 the internasals shorter than that between the prajfrontals; frontal 

 as long as or a little shorter than its distance from the end of the 

 snout or than the parietals ; loreal a little longer than deep ; one 

 prffiocular, with a subocidar beneath, wedged in between the third 

 and fourth upper labials ; two postoculars ; temporals 2 + 2 : upper 



