400 COLUBKID^. 



Platyceps semifasciatus, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxix. 1860, 



p. 114. 

 Tyria ventriniaculata, Cope, Proc. Ac. Phiktd. 1862, p. 338. 

 Zamenis ventiimaculatus, (riinth. Bcpt. Brit. Ind. p. 253 (1864) ; 



Stoliczha, Proc. As. Soc. Benq. 1872, p. 82 ; Blanf. Journ. As. Soc. 



Bern/, xliv. 1875, p. 208; 'Theob. Cat. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 169 



(1876) ; Murray, Zool. Sind, p. 378 (1884) ; Boideny. Faun. Ind., 



Rept. p. 325 (1890). 



persicus, Jan, Icon. Gdn. 23, pi. ii. fig. 1 (1867). 



Coluber (Platyceps) semifasciatus, Theob. Cut. Rept. As. Soc. Mits. 



1868, p. 52. _ _ 



Ccmpsosoma seraifasciata, Stoliczka, Journ. As. Soc. Beny. xxxix. 



1870, p. 188; Theob. Cat. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 164. 

 Zamenis yentrimaculatus, part., Blanf. Zool. E. Persia, \). 414 (1876). 



Snout obtuse, feebly projecting. Rostral as deep as broad or a 

 little broader tban deep, hollowed out beneath, the portion visible 

 from above not half as long as its distance from the frontal : inter- 

 nasals as long as or a little shorter than the pra;frontals ; frontal 

 considerably broader than the supraocular, once and one fourth to 

 once and one third as long as broad, as long as its distance from the 

 end of the snout or slightly longer, shorter than the parietals ; 

 loreal usually not longer than deep ; one prseocular, in contact with 

 the frontal ; a small subocular below the [jrseocular ; two post- 

 oculars ; temporals 2-|-2 or 2-f3; nine upper labials, fifth and 

 sixth entering the eye ; four or five lower labials in contact with 

 the anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin-shields as long as or 

 longer than the anterior and separated by two series of scales. 

 Scales perfectly smooth, in 19 rows. Ventrals very distinctly 

 angulate laterally, 194-211; anal divided; subcaudals 82-119. 

 Greyish or olive above, usually with more or less marked transverse 

 dark bars which are narrower than the interspaces between them ; 

 a series of black spots on each side of the belly ; a black oblique 

 streak below the eye and another on the temple. 



Total length 900 millim. ; tail 230. 



From the Euphrates through Persia, Afghanistan, and Baluchis- 

 tan to Kashmere, the Punjab, Sind, Cutch, and Bombay. 



a. 2 (^'- 210 ; C. 101). Euphrates. (Type of C. ches7iei.) 



b r? (V 209 ; C. 106). Mesopotamia. Commander Jones 



[C.-j. 

 c-e. Yg. (V. 208, 210, 206 ; Fao, Persia. W. D. Cumming,Esq. 



C. 97, 104, 99). [P.]- 



f. S (V. 204 ; C. 92). Bushire, Persia. Dr. Leith [P.]. 



V. 6 (V. 199 ; C. 82). Bushire, Persia. 



h. 2 1 imperfect (V. ? ; C. Bezd. Afghanistan. Dr. J. Aitchison 



116). ' [C.]. Afghan 



Boundary Comm. 

 i-k. Yg. (V. 194, 203 ; C. Gwadar, Baluchistan. W. T. Blanford, Esq. 



104, 110). [P-]- 



/. c? (V. 211 ; C. 119). Between Kashmere A. A. Kinlcch, Esq. 



and Murree. [?•]• 



m. 2 (V. 209 ; C. 110). West of Jodhpur, Sind. W. T. Blanford, Esq. 



n. 2 (V. 208; C. 108). Kurrachee. Dr. Leith [P.]. 



o. Hgr. (V. 200 ; C. 102). Kurrachee. Kurrachee Mus. [E.]. 



