576 On a new Snake from Borihern China. 



LXVII. — Description of a new Snake of the Genus Coluber 

 from Northern China. By G. A. Boulenger, F.R.S. 



(Published by permission of tlie Trustees of the British Museum.) 



Coluber halli. 



Snout rounded, feebly prominent; canthus rostialis distinct, 

 loreal region concave ; eye moderate, half length of snou-t. 

 E-ostral broader than deep, the portion visible from above 

 measuring about one-fourth its distance from the frontal ; 

 internasals a little broader than long, shorter than the prro- 

 frontals; frontal once and a half or once and three-fifths as long 

 as broad, as long as its distance from the rostral, as long as 

 the parietals ; loreal a little longer than deep ; prseocular 

 large, single or divided, with a small subocular below it; 

 two postoculars ; temporals 2 or 3 + 3 or 4; eight upper 

 labials, fourth and fifth entering the eye ; five or six lower 

 labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are as 

 long as or a little longer tlian tiie posterior. Scales in 25 

 rows, very strongly keeled, of outer row smooth. Ventrals 

 not angulate laterally, 173 j anal divided ; subcaudals 58 ( $ ) 

 to Qb ((?)• Brown above ; vertebral region lighter, with a 

 series of large transversely elliptical spots of a darker brown 

 with a fine blackish edge ; a lateral series of much smaller 

 spots, alternating with the above ; a dark brown band from 

 eye to eye across the prsefrontals and a broader one from the 

 eye to the last upper labial ; further markings on the back 

 of the head expanding into two large blotches on the occiput 

 and nape ; upper lip yellowish, spotted or speckled with 

 brown ; lower parts yellowish, with small greyish spots ; 

 larger blackish spots on the sides of the belly. 



Total length 940 mm.; tail 180. 



Two specimens, male and female, were found in rocky 

 gullies in the Chikfeng (Hata) District, N. Chihili Province, 

 by Mr. A. L. Hall, and presented by him to the British 

 Museum. 



This species is allied to C. dt'one, Pall., which was found 

 in the same district by Mr. Hall. It is easily distinguished 

 by its strongly keeled scales. 



