99. CONTIA. 261 
Peer opins moniliger, Nordm. in Demid. Voy. Russ. Mér. iii. 
p. 342, pl. iv. fig. 1 (1840). 
Coronella collaris, Berth. in We ae Reise n. Kolchis, p. 332 (1850). 
Ablabes modestus, Giinth. Cat. p. 27 (1858) ; Strauch, Schl. Russ. R. 
p. 36, pl. i. fig. 1 (1873) ; Boetty. Ber. Senck. Ges. 1890, p. 294. 
Contia modesta, Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1862, p. 339. 
Eirenis collaris, Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. ii. 1863, p. 257, le 
Icon. Gén. 15, pl. iv. fig. 1 (1866). 
Ablabes collaris, Strauch, ic. p. 41, pl. i. fig. 
Cyclophis modestus, Blanf. Zool, Es, Pers. p. * 408 (1876) ; Boettg. 
Sitzb. Ac. Berl. 1888, p. 171, and Ber. Senck. Ges. 1892, p. 147 ; 
Meéhely, Zool. Anz. 1894, p. 85. 
collaris, Blanf. 7. c. p. 405. 
Ablabes modestus, var. semimaculata, Boettg. Ber. Offend. Ver. Nat. 
1876, p. 58, pl. —. 
Cyclopiis modestus, var. punctatolineata, Boettg. Ber. Senck. Ges. 
1892, p. 147. 
Rostral a little broader than deep, just visible from above ; nasal 
undivided; suture between the internasals as long as or a little 
shorter than that between the prefrontals; frontal once and a half 
to once and two thirds as long as broad, longer than its distance 
from the end of the snout, shorter than the parietals; loreal square 
or a little longer than deep; one (rarely two) pre- and two (rarely 
one) postoculars; temporals 1+2; seven upper labials, third and 
fourth entering the eye; four (rarely five) lower labials in contact 
with the anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin-shields smaller than 
the anterior, and usually separated from each other by scales. 
Seales in 15 or 17 rows. Ventrals 150-191; anal divided; sub- 
caudals 5J-78. Pale olive above, each scale lighter in the centre ; 
head and nape in the young black, with yellow spots or cross bands, 
the black nuchal collar edged with yellow ; these markings becoming 
indistinct in the adult ; lower parts uniform white. Some varieties 
have longitudinal series of dark dots, which may form lines on the 
tail. 
Total length 480 millim.; tail 110. 
From the Archipelago, Cyprus, and Asia Minor to the Caucasus 
and Persia. 
a-b. g (Sc. 15; V. 151; C.62) Areshsky, Gov. St. Petersburg Mus. 
& 2 (Sc.15; V. 164; C. 53). Klizabethpol. [H.]. 
e-d. 3 (Se. 17; V. 176; C. 78) Constantinople. 
& ye(se.17; Vi. 165; |C. 75). 
é. Many specs. ’ (Se. 17), o (V. Xanthus. Sir C. Fellows [P.]. 
164, 162, 161, 164, 168, 163, 
156; C. 73, 64, 65, 66, 66, 68, 
62), 2 (Vv. 172, 172; 0: 56, 
55), & yg. (V. 159, 177, 170, 
150, 174; C. 67, 62, 55, 69, 
63). 
f-g. 2 & yg. (Sc. 17; V.185, Valley of the R. MacAndrew, 
pee? C. 59, 78). Meinder. Esq. [P.]. 
a. (Se. 1b; V. 158; C. 60). Ruins of Nine- W. Py Loftus, Esq. 
veh. [P 
he Ve (Se. 15; 175. Vi. 163, Euphrates Exped. 
173; C.?, 61). 
