348 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVII. 



This exceedingly handsome snake is found almost exclusively in the palm 

 o-roves edging the rivers. It does not appear to acquire its pure black co- 

 loration until over 4 feet in length. 



It is a swiftly moving creature, climbing palm trees with ease and biting 

 with accuracy and animus when handled. 



I have found lizard remains in the stomach of one ; the usual diet however 

 is certainly snakes. Near Bagdad, the only place where I had the oppor- 

 tunity of observing them in any numbers, the victim in the great majority 

 of cases was TarbopMs iberus. One specimen kept in captivity for several 

 weeks ate voraciously any small snake offered (usually Zam. daJiUi or 

 Zam. ventrimaculatus) eventually dying as a result of attempting to 

 swallow too large a specimen of the latter. They are thirsty creatures 

 drinking often and copiously from a saucer, occasionally immersing the 

 whole mouth in the process — C. M. I. 



6. Zamenis clalilii, Fitz, 

 Bagdad (Capt. Ingoldby). 



Habitat : S. E. Europe, Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, N.-W. Persia 

 Cyprus, Syria. 



This most slender and beautiful snake is common in the palm groves, 

 frequenting the j^oimg thorny palm bushes where it ".an feed in reasonable 

 safety. Its food seems to be chiefly insects, occasionally small lizards. 



Active in day-time only. All specimens refused food in captivity — C.M.I. 



7. Zamenis ventrimaculatus, (xray. 



Basra, Twin Canals at Sheik Saada, Esra's Tomb between Quarah and 

 Amara (Lt.-Col. Wall) ; Shaiba (Lt. Livesey) ; Faleya (Capt. Mac- 

 kenzie) ; Zobeya (Capt. Pitman) ; Bagdad (Capt. Ingoldby) ; Samash (Maj. 

 Lane) ; Baquba, N.-E. of Bagdad (E. W. E. Wouterz) ; Sheik Saad 

 (Sir P. Z. Cox), Basra (Maj. C. Christy). 



Habitat : From the Euphrates to Kashmir and N.-W. India. 



An active snake, most frequently met with on the desert at considerable 

 distances from water. The colour harmonises perfectly with the baked 

 earth of its surroundings — O.M.I. 



8. Zamenis diadema, Schlg. 



Basra, Bagdad, Twit Canals at Sheik Saad (Lt.-Col. Wall) ; Shaiba 

 (Lt. Livesey) ; Faleya (Capt. Mackenzie) ; Zobeya (Capt. Pitman) ; 

 Nasiryah (Lt. Livesey) ; Baquba (E. W. E. Wouterz) ; Daur (Capt. W. 

 M. Logan Home). 



Habitat : From the Sahara and Arabia to Kashmir and N. W. India. 



Very common throughout at any rate lower Mesopotamia. The markings 

 of the young persist in adult life — C.M.I. 



9. Lylorhynchus diadema, D. and B, 



Shaiba (Lt. Livesey); Faleya (Capt. Mackenzie); A waz (Capt. E. S. Hearn). 

 Habitat : From the Algerian Sahara to Arabia, Syria and Persia. 



10. Contiacollaris, Men.. 

 Bagdad (Lt.-Col. Wall). 



Habitat: Caucasus, Mesopotamia, Persia. A specimen from Muscat is 

 preserved in the Collection of the Bombay Natural History Society. T 

 now regard C. modesta, Mart, with the scales in 17 rows, as a distinct species. 



11. Contia coronella, Schlg. 



Shaiba, Zobeya (Lt. Livesey); Faleya (Capt. Mackenzie). 

 Halitnt : Was known from Syria and S. W. Persia. 



