SNAKES IN QUETTA MUSEUM. 1035 



and Bostan. The ventrals range between 192 and 206, and the subcaudals 

 from 92 to 99. The costals number 19 two heads-lengths behind the head, 

 19 in mid-body, and 13 two heads-lengths before the anus. The absorp- 

 tion of rows from 19 to 17, and from 17 to 15 occurs very close together 

 and the steps may be intermixed. Usually the row next to the vertebral 

 first blends with the one below (or rarely with the vertebral), and then the 

 3rd blends with the 4th (rarely the 2nd). From 15 to 13 the reduction is 

 similar to that in the first step, the row next to the vertebral disappearing. 



The supralabials are usually 9, the 3rd, 4th and 6th being divided, and 

 the 4th, 5th and 6th touch the eye. This seems to me the true interpreta- 

 tion of the condition, and I do not agree with Mr. Boulenger in considering 

 the upper parts of the 4th and 6th shields suboculars. None of these speci- 

 mens were adorned with any suspicion of an orange vertebral stripe. 

 The dentition is as follows in one • — maxillary 12 left, 11 right, followed 

 by a gap, and then two enlarged teeth. Palatine 8. Pterygoid 15 left, 

 16 right. Mandibular 16 left, 15 ? right. 



Zamenis ravergieri (Menetr). 



Several specimens from Hanna, Quetta, Kalat, Ziarat, and Harboi. 

 This species does not appear to have been recorded from Baluchistan 

 before, and is evidently common there. The supralabials are 9, the 3rd 

 and 4th divided (the 3rd entire in two specimens) "and the 4th, 5th and 

 6th touch the eye. The ventrals range between 195 and 220, and the 

 subcaudals between 87 and 93. In one example the 4th to the 8th are 

 entire and in another the 4th to the 6th. The costals are in 21 rows, two 

 heads-lengths behind the head, 21 in mid-body, and 15 two heads-lengths 

 before the anus. The first two steps from 21 to 19, and 19 to 17 occur 

 close together, and are sometimes intermixed. Usually the row next to 

 the vertebral is absorbed first into the row below, or into the vertebral, 

 then the 3rd row above the ventrals is absorbed into the 4th and finally 

 the rows reduce from 17 to 15 by the row next to the vertebral being 

 absorbed into the one below. In adults the spots are usually rather a 

 darker brown than the ground colour, but in one adult from Ziarat the 

 dorsal spots are unusually black, and well defined. The maxillary teeth 

 agree with those of rhodorhachis and karelini in having a gap posteriorly 

 succeeded by two enlarged teeth. 



Zamenis diadema (Schlegel). 

 Specimens of this snake are very numerous, there being no less than 

 30 examples, from Dhadur Bolan, Hirok, Ziarat, Mushkaf, Khushdilkhan, 

 Harboi Hills (Kalat), Fort Sandeman, Kalat, Hudda, Hanna, Quetta, 

 Urak, Kach, Sibi, Mach, Loralai, Sheikh Wasil, Shaltanzai, Pishin and 

 Hazara Road. There are three distinct colour varieties. A — Dorsally 

 buff or pale brownish with a few or many scales deep claret coloured. 



