﻿TARBOPHIS 219 



Ailurophis, translated Cat-snake, probably originated 

 from the way in which this snake stalks its prey, and 

 suddenly pounces upon it. According to Eiffe, the 

 poison causes the death of a Lacerta vivipara in one 

 minute, and P. de Grijs observed the larger Lacerta 

 agilis to die in two or three minutes. As a rule 

 even fresh-caught specimens allow themselves to be 

 handled without attempting to bite ; some specimens, 

 on the other hand, are very savage. Stony localities, 

 old walls, and ruins, are the favourite abodes of this 

 snake, which does well in captivity. 



Reproduction. — Seven or eight eggs are laid in 

 July ; they measure about i J inches in length and 

 i inch in width. 



20. Tarbophis iberus, Eichwald 

 The Caucasian Cat-Snake 



Very closely allied to the preceding, and differing 

 from it only in the following points : Parietals 

 shorter, slightly longer than the frontal, and anal 

 entire. Loreal twice to twice and a half as long as 

 deep. Fourth and fifth, or third, fourth, and fifth, 

 labials entering the eye. Scales in nineteen or 

 twenty-one rows. Ventrals 203 to 235 ; subcaudals 

 54 to 70. 



Grey above, with 35 to 40 blackish spots on the 

 body, the anterior largest and darkest ; a lateral 

 series of smaller spots or vertical bars. Lower parts 



