326 



9 upper labials, fifth and sixth entering the eye ; 4 or 5 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 

 199-211; 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 boloAv the 

 eye and another on the temple. 



Total length 3 feet ; tail 9 inches. 



Hal. From the Euphrates through Persia, Afghanistan, and 

 Baluchistan to Kashmir, the Punjab, Sind, Cutch, and Bombay. 



399. Zamenis ladacensis. 



Zamenis ladaceusis, Anders. J.A. 8. S. xl, 1871, p. 16. 

 Zamenis ventrimaculatus, part,, Stoh'czJca, P. A. S. B. 1872, p. 130 : 

 Btanf. Zool. E. Persia, p. 414. 



This snake, which I think it advisable to distinguish specifically 

 from Z. ventrimaculatus, is recognizable by its slender form and 

 greater number of ventrals (214 to 255) and subcaudals (124 to 

 140 *). In its other structural characters it agrees with Z. ventri- 

 maculatus. Anterior part of body with dark cross-bands which 

 are very close together ; these disappear, or are replaced by spots 

 posteriorly ; some specimens uniform greyish olive. 



ffab. The "Western Himalayas (Ladak, Gilgit), and also in Persia, 

 Arabia, Syria, and Egypt. In the latter country there also occurs 

 the allied Z. florulentus, Schleg. (21 rows of scales ; ventrals 201- 

 228 : subcaudals 89-98) ; but all the Arabian specimens I have 

 seen (Midian, Aden, Muscat) belong to the present species. 



400. Zamenis karelinii. 



Coluber (Tyria) karelinii, Brandt, Bull. Ac. St. Pttei-sb. iii, 1838, 



p. 243. 

 Zamenis karelinii, Strmich, Mm. Ac. St. Petersb. xxi, No. 4, p. 1 10, 



pi. iii. 



Zamenis ventrimaculatus, part., Blanf. Zool. E. Persia, p. 414. 

 Zamenis ventrimaculatus, var. karelinii, Boetty. Zool. Jahrb. iii, 1888. 



p. 928. 



Snout more or less pointed, projecting, with sharp canthus and 

 nearly vertical lores ; rostral as deep as broad, deeply hollowed out 

 beneath, the portion visible from above nearly half as long as its 

 distance from the frontal ; suture between the internasals nearly 

 as long as that between the praef rentals ; frontal as long as its dis- 

 tance from the end of the snout, a little shorter than the parietals ; 



* The tail of the type specimen, described by Anderson, is probably muti- 

 lated. 



