1881.] OPHIDIANS FROM SOCOTRA. 463 



A single specimen, 14 inches long, is in the collection; the tail 

 measures 2 inches. 



3. Zamenis SOCOTRA, sp. n. (Plate XLI.) 



Habit slender ; head narrow ; eye of. moderate size. Rostral 

 shield convex, just reaching the upper surface of the head. The 

 scutes of the upper surface of the head are not subdivided; anterior 

 frontals much smaller than the posterior; vertical large, broad in 

 front, with the lateral margins slightly concave ; occipitals truncated 

 behind ; a triangular enlarged scale fits into the notch between their 

 ends. Loreal elongate. Ten upper labials, of which the fourth and 

 sixth are transversely divided, so that three prse- and three post- 

 oculars may be distinguished ; the fifth upper labial is undivided, 

 and enters the orbit. The posterior chin-shields are extremely 

 narrow, much narrower than the anterior, and are separated by 

 several smaller narrow scutes. Temporals scale-like, 3-f3-f3. 

 Scales smooth, in 23 rows. Ventrals 225 ; anal bifid ; subcaudals 

 117. Abdomen with a very obscure ridge on each side. 



The head is nearly uniform olive above ; there is no spot below 

 the eye, or temple-streak. The ground-colour of the anterior half 

 of the body is pink, with olive cross bands edged with black and about 

 as broad as the interspaces. Towards the middle of the body the 

 pink interspaces become indistinct and mottled with short black 

 lines ; and the tail is nearly uniform olive. Lower parts uniform 

 reddish white. 



In a variety the black edges to the cross bands are absent, and the 

 pink interspaces are, from the fore part of the trunk, mottled with 

 olive. 



Of this fine and very distinct species o{ Zamenis there are three 

 specimens in the collection. The largest measures 32| inches, the 

 tail taking 8| inches. 



4. ECHIS COLORATA. 



This species was characterized by me in the Society's 'Proceedings' 

 18/8, p. 978, from a specimen obtained in Midian. It occurs also on 

 the shores of the Dead Sea, two specimens obtained by Mr. Tristram, 

 and formerly referred by me to E. carinata, belonging to it. One 

 rather young example is in the Socotran collection, and of a more 

 uniform coloration than the type. The characteristic of this species 

 consists principally in the much smaller scales and scutes. It may 

 be at once recognized by its very small nasals, which are separated by 

 very small scutes from the rostral ; whilst in E, carinata the large 

 nasals form a suture with the rostral. 



