144 FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



in moist, but not marshy places. I never noticed it among stones or 

 rocks. When alarmed it glides away among the grass, and may be traced 

 by the gentle motion of the blades over its sinuous track. 



This Snake has rather a wide range, from Dalmatia and Greece 

 to Persia, and northward to the Talisch mountains near the Caspian. 



19. Zamcnis ravergieri. (Menetr. Cat. Rais., p. 69.) 



Common among the rushes and rank herbage round the extinct 

 crater which forms the little Lake Phiala, now Birket er Ram. I do not 

 presume to say whether this is a species or a mere variety of Z. caudcv- 

 lincatiis. Both forms, however, are found. 



20. Zamcnis algira. (Jan.) (Lortet. Poiss, et Rept. du lac de 

 Tiberiade, p. 88.) 



Found by the banks of the rivers, the Litany, Nahr el Khebir, and 

 others. 



This Snake did not occur to myself. 



21. Tropidonotus hydrus. (Pall. Itin. i., p. 459, No. 18.) 



This water Snake swarms not only in the lakes, but in little ponds 

 and ditches throughout the country. It is especially abundant in Lake 

 Phiala. 



It is found round the Caspian and Black Seas, as well as in Northern 

 Syria. 



Bottger unites this and the following species. 



22. Tropidonotus tessellattis. Laur. Schinz. Faun. Europ. ii., p. 39. 



This Snake, which attains a considerable size, is of a greyish green 

 colour, with black spots, living among the thistles and herbage, generally 

 in marshy places. Dr. Lortet found it near the Nahr el Khebir, as well as 

 on the plain of Gennesaret, and in gardens at Sidon. It feeds chiefly on 

 small Mammals. 



This Snake inhabits all Southern Europe, from Spain to Greece. 

 Syria appears to be its Eastern limit. 



