978 MR. H. SEEBOHM ON SYLVIA BLANFORDI. [Dec. 3, 



subdivided : anterior frontals much smaller than the posterior ; 

 vertical large, broad in front, with the lateral margins concave ; 

 occipitals rounded behind. Loreal nearly square; three ante- 

 oculars, the upper of which is large, concave, extending onto the 

 vertical shield ; the two lower are small, and may be regarded as 

 detached portions of the fourth upper labial. Two postoculars ; 

 eight upper labials, of which the fifth enters the orbit. Temporals 

 scale-like, 2 + 3 + 3, the lower of the anterior pair being larger 

 than the upper. The scales smooth, in 19 rows. Ventrals 197; 

 anal bifid ; subcaudals 79. Abdomen with a slight ridge on each 

 side. 



The ground colour of this most beautiful suake is olive ; a bright 

 orange streak begins on the vertical shield and runs along the entire 

 median line of the back and tail. It is interrupted by broad black 

 cross bands, of which the two anterior occupy the crown of the head, 

 twenty-one encircle the trunk, and eight the tail. The bands on 

 the trunk do not reach across the middle of the abdomen ; but the 

 rings on the tail are complete. 



The length of the entire specimen is 26 inches, that of the tail 

 being 6|. It was found on the mountains east of El Muwaylah. 



Zamenis cliffordii, Schleg. 



A young specimen from the sandy coast-region of Tihamat Midian. 



Echis carinata, Merr. 



One specimen from the sandy coast-region. 



Echis colorata. 



This specimen approaches the true Vipers in general habit ; but 

 the scales on the side are arranged in the same peculiar manner 

 which is characteristic of Echis. In the thickest part of the body 

 the scales form about 35 longitudinal series. There are four series 

 of small scales between the eye and the upper labials. Greyish with 

 large pinkish spots on the upperside ; they are rounded on the 

 front part of the body, but more irregular and broken up on the 

 posterior. Lower parts whitish, speckled and powdered with 

 greyish. 



Ventrals 208 ; subcaudals 48. 



The single example, which is much injured, was caught on Jebel 

 Sharr, at an altitude of 4500 feet above the level of the sea. It is 

 27 inches long, the thin tail measuring 3 inches only. 



2. On a new Species of Sylvia from Abyssinia, and on some 

 other Abyssinian Sylvians. By Henry Seebohim, P.Z.S. 



[Eeceived November 7, 1878.] 



The only species of the genus Sylvia obtained by Jesse on the 

 Abyssinian expedition, was the common Whitethroat. This species 

 was also obtained by Blanford ; and in addition he records (Geol. and 



