228 OPHIDIA. 



the latter squared ; the top of the head is marked with 

 transverse lines, conspicuous especially in the young ; there 

 is often on the head a curved streak like a horseshoe, 

 which, though far from constant, has given the name to 

 the species ; in the adult, the belly is much marked with 

 black ; frequently on the back is a row of angular brown 

 marks, with yellow margins ; a black mark extends from 

 eye to eye. 



Entire length, upwards of 3 feet. 



Is common in Spain and Sardinia, and, according to 

 MM. Dumeril and Bibron, in Italy, but Prince Buonaparte 

 states that it is unknown there. Is foimd in Greece, Bar- 

 bary, and Egypt. 



Coluber viridiflavus. 



Zamenis viridiflavus, Dum. et Bib. vol. vii. p. 686. 

 Coluber atrovirens, Schinz, Europ, Faun. vol. ii. p. 45. 

 Coluber viridiflavus, Buon. Faun. Ital. (figured). 



Desceiption. — Head oblong, squared, the plates above the 

 eyes projecting over the orbits ; central plate of the fore- 

 head narrow ; on each side are eight labial plates, of which 

 the fourth and fifth touch the eye ; there are two pre- 

 ocular, and as many post-ocular plates; nostrils quite 

 lateral, placed between two plates ; the scales are not 

 keeled, they are very long, larger towards the sides, those 

 on the centre forming nineteen rows ; ventral plates, 198 

 to 202; subcaudal, 110 to 112 pairs; anal double. One of 

 the handsomest European Snakes. The back and sides are 

 dark green, the centre of each scale being generally spotted 

 with yellow ; the head is also marked with yellow, which 

 forms a sort of pattern ; the yellow spots on the anterior 

 part of the body are united, and collected into small trans- 

 verse irregular bands ; this appearance ceases behind the 

 first thii'd of the back, after which they are replaced by 



