396 COLUBRID. 
long as or a little longer than its distance from the end of the snout, 
a little shorter than the parietals ; loreal as long as deep or longer ; 
one preocular (rarely two), never in contact with the frontal; a 
small subocular below the preocular; two (rarely three) postocu- 
lars; temporals 2+3 or 2+2; eight upper labials, fourth and 
fifth entering the eye; five (rarely four) lower labials in contact 
with the anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin-shields usually longer 
than the anterior, and separated from each other by scales. Scales 
smooth, in 17 or 19 rows. Ventrals more or less indistinctly angu- 
late laterally, 190-250; anal divided ; subcaudals 87-130. Colo- 
ration very variable. 
Total length 1790 millim. ; tail 500. 
A. Forma ryprca.—Young pale olive above, the head black with 
yellow markings. Some adults preserve the pale coloration of 
the young, whilst others are dark green or black, with yellow 
spots or longitudinal streaks, &c.; the tail usually striated 
black and yellow ; belly yellow or greenish white, uniform or 
with small dark dots. Melanotic specimens have ‘been named 
Z. carbonarius, Bp., and Z. sardus, Suckow. 
France, Switzerland, Italy, Malta, Illyria, Dalmatia, and Greece. 
ao oe 19; V. 205; Leffond, Haute-- Dr. F. Mocquard [P.]. 
C. 110). Saéne, France. 
b2 3 Ce. 19; V. 200; Turin. Prof. Bonelli [P.}. 
Bes 04). 
c-d, e, f,g. & (Se. 19,19, Bologna. Prof. J. J. Bianconi [P.]. 
19,17; oa Sos, 218, 203; 
200 ; oF 113, 113, 104, 
110) & yg. (Se. 19; Vv. 
219; C. 100). 
h. Ye. (Sc. 17; V. 210; Ferrieare, Apen- Prof. G. B. Howes [P.}. 
C. 98). nines. 
i-k, Hgr. (Sc. 19; V.217; Rome. W. C. Trevelyan, Esq. 
C. 110) & yg. (Se. 19; [P.]. 
V. 210; C. 94). 
Ln, o. 2 (Sc. 19, 19,19, Naples. Dr. F. S. Monticelli [E.]. 
17; V. 215, 213, 214, 
211; C. 109, 87, 113, 113). Lord Lilford [P.] 
8. oS (Se. 19; V. 196; Syracuse. rd Lilfo %. 
oe. 118) & 2 (Se. 19, 19, 
19; V. 204, 205, 206 ; 
C. 111, 98, 112). 
t. Her. (Be. 19; V.198; Malta. J. Couch, Esq. [P.]. 
u. 3 No ‘19; V.171;  Cerigo Island. Dr. Forsyth Major [P.]. 
109). 
v ‘Shull France. 
B. Var. casprus, Iwan (trabalis, Pall., erythrogaster, Fisch.).—Grey 
or pale olive above, each scale with a yellowish or pale brown 
longitudinal streak ; with or without black spots ; belly uniform 
orange or red, 
S.E. Europe, Transcaucasia, N.W. Persia. 
a. 3 (Sc. 19; V. 203; C.?). Greece. _ 
