218 OPHIDIA. 



eight rows; maxillary teeth 18 above, 25 below; palatine, 

 10; pterygoid, 12. The general colour is uniform olive 

 above, and light green-yellow beneath ; some of the scales of 

 the sides, especially those near the belly, display a white 

 spot on either the upper or lower margin, or on both ; these 

 spots are less conspicuous towards the tail than towards 

 the head ; the head is of the same colour as the back, and 

 without any black streaks, but behind the gape on each 

 side of the neck is a bright yellow spot ; behind the eye, 

 and on the labial plates on each side, is an irregular dark 

 grey mark. 



In the young animal the back is grey-brown, with four 

 rows of spots of a much darker shade. 



The entire length often exceeds 4 feet. 



This Snake is a native of many, if not of most, of the 

 warmer countries of Europe. It is common in several parts 

 of Germany, especially at Schlangenbad in Nassau. Found 

 all over Italy, most commonly in Lombardy, the Agro 

 Eomano, and Calabria. Prince Buonaparte says that 

 those found in parts of the Duchy of Spoleto have a yel- 

 low tinge ; and in Sicily, where it is frequent, are distin- 

 guished by a dark red-brown line along each side of 

 the body. Is not abundant in the South of France. In- 

 habits the Carpathian Mountains, Hungary, and Carniola. 

 In Switzerland, Schinz records it as of rare occurrence, 

 and only in the Cantons of Ticino and VaUais. 



Coluber quadrilineatus. 



Ahlabes quadrilineatus, Dum. et Bib. vol. vii. p. 319. 

 Coluber quadrilineatus, Pallas, Zoog. Eoss. As. vol. iii. p. 40. 

 Coluber Leopardinus, Sciiinz, Europ. Faun. vol. ii. p. 47 ; Buck. Faun. 

 Ital. (figured). 



Desceiption. — The head is short, scarcely divided from the 

 body, which is cylindrical; scales smooth, without any 



