27 



tiguous. In the posterior part of the snake 

 the bars gradually become less and less dis- 

 tinct, the black part becoming brown and the 

 bars running into one another. On the tail 

 the bars are not distinct at all. 

 The cross-bands may entirely disappear in the 

 adult. The crown of the head has some 

 white spots or blotches on it. The belly is 

 uniform yellowish. 

 Habitat — Fairly common, especially in the South of 

 India. 



ZAMENIS DIADEMA {No English name). 



Length— May grow to 6 feet, tail one-fifth. 



Shape— Similar to Zamenis ventrimaculaius. 



Head shields — The prse-frontals are usually broken up 



into several shields ; often three series of 



shields between the rostral and the frontal. 

 Sub-oculars are present, usually a series of four 



or five. 

 The temporals are small and scale-like. Loreals 



three or four. Upper labials, 14. 

 Scales — May be 25 to 33. 29 is the most usual number. 



Slightly keeled. 

 Ventrals—2\0 to 278 ; anal entire. Sub-caudals 65 — 110, 



divided. 

 Colouring — Yellowish olive, pale buff or sandy grey 



above with a vertebral line of more or less 



marked round dark brown spots, usually 



forming a series of rhombs. A lateral brown 



stripe or series of dots. 

 Lower parts white, usually with small blackish 



spots. 



