REPTILES. 455 



middle of each; three small plates behind the eye; 

 usual length 4 ft. 



The common Swedish snake differs so much in appear- 

 ance from Professor Bell's fine engraving of the British ring 

 snake that both myself and other Swedish naturalists have 

 almost doubted whether they are identical. Our snake 

 is generally lighter in colour, and the spots in one row 

 along the sides. 



Is common in all parts of Sweden and Norway, but 

 it is hardly correctly ascertained how far north they go. I 

 fancy scarcely up to Lapland. 



Abdominal plates 170. Sub-caudal plates, 60 to 65 

 pairs. 



6. C. Laivis, Schleg. Slatt Snok. The Smooth Snake. 



It has always been a matter of surprise to me that 

 this species, which is not uncommon in Sweden, and 

 very common in many parts of the continent, should 

 have so long been overlooked in England, for it is 

 only just lately that it has been added to the British 

 fauna. 



It may at once be distinguished from the common snake by 

 the total absence of the yellow f( cravat/' by its duller colour, 

 and by the smooth sleek appearance of the whole body ; for 

 the scales, instead of being carinated as in the common 

 snake, are perfectly smooth and polished, without the least 

 sign of a keel. General colour: brown, with rows of 

 blackish spots along the back, a band over the neck, and 

 a streak at the back of the eye of the same colour ; reddish 

 brown on the sides ; under parts cinnamon red and yellow 

 mixed, with or without spots, or steel grey speckled with 

 yellow along the sides ; iris red-yellow ; mouth and tongue 

 red; abdominal plates and scuta much as in the com- 

 mon snake, both in shape and numbers ; usual length 

 about 2 ft. 



Is nowhere so common in Sweden as the last, but still 

 not so rare as has been supposed. Has been taken fre- 



