394 DR. J. ANDERSON ON PERSIAN, [Mar. 5, 



but not in contact with the vertical ; three postoculars (one specimen 

 out of six has four postoculars on one side) ; one large anterior tem- 

 poral in contact with the two lower postoculars. A pair of posterior 

 temporals touching the upper posterior angle of the last or seventh 

 labial. Upper labials 7 ; sometimes 8, by the division of the second 

 (this occurs in two specimens out of six). In the normal number, 7, 

 the third and fourth enter the orbit, and in the latter case the fourth 

 and fifth. The fifth labial is by far the largest. Nineteen rows of 

 strongly keeled scales round the body. Scales elongate and leaf- 

 like, and slightly notched at their free extremity. Ventrals vary 

 from 177 to 180; subcaudals from 71 to 77. 



Adults either uniform dark olive-black above, with indications of 

 two longitudinal pale-coloured dorsal bands by some of the scales at 

 regular intervals being more or less tinged with light brownish, or 

 general colour dark olive-brown, with two longitudinal pale brown 

 bands the breadth of two lines of scales. The bands and sides with 

 rather obscure black spots, a scale's length, at regular intervals of from 

 two to three rows, the ones on the sides alternating with those on the 

 bands. Under surface yellowish anteriorly, with large bluish-black 

 spots, which become larger and more numerous from before back- 

 wards, till at last the yellow is entirely replaced by the spots, the 

 hinder part of the belly and the whole of the tail being deep black. 

 In the young the confluence of the spots is not so perfect, and the 

 ground-colour on the under part of the body is bluish grey. A 

 transverse pale yellowish brown band from the angle of the mouth 

 to the posterior extremities of the occipitals, very indistinct on the 

 centre of the neck ; a large black spot behind each, the small lateral 

 spots being as it were a continuation of them. Upper labials yel- 

 lowish, with black margins, those of the fourth, fifth, and sixth 

 being very intense. 



Largest specimen measures from snout to vent 38" 3'", tail 10" ; 

 total 48" 3'". 



Hab. Rehst, on the Caspian Sea. 



The Caspian specimens belong to a melanoid form of this species, 

 probably the var. atra of Nordmann. 



Tropidonotus hydrus, Pallas. 



I have received five specimens of this snake — one from Rehst, on 

 the Caspian Sea, another from Shiraz, Persia, and three young 

 specimens from Teheran. The first is not adult. It is dark-olive 

 brown, covered at regular distances with black spots tending to form 

 transverse bands. The last seventh of the belly and the whole under- 

 surface of the tail are quite black. Its prefrontals are pointed ; it 

 has three anterior oculars and four postoculars ; eight upper labials, 

 the fourth only entering the orbit ; and nineteen rows of strongly 

 keeled scales. The Shiraz specimen is a light yellowish olive, with 

 black spots, those on the back being placed obliquely ; those on the 

 side alternating with the former, and only distinguished by the black 

 skin and edges of the bases of the scales. Two or three of the scales 

 between each of these dark areas are more or less margined with 



