148 MR. G. A. BOULEjS'OER ON THE REPTILES. 



may be confluent with an elongate spot on the nape ; the spots confluent into three 

 loii2;itudinal streaks on the tail ; yellowish or red beneath, with or without black dots, 

 but constantly with a lateral series of black spots. 



Total length 1-340 millim., tail 270. 



One of the commonest snakes in Morocco and Algeria north of the Sahara, and 

 extending to the northern parts of Tunisia. Obtained by M. Lataste in Algeria, at 

 Oran, Batna, M'sila, and Tebesa, and received by him from the Plateau of St-rsou an<l 

 from Bona. Found also in Spain and Portugal and in Sicily. liecorded from Egypt 

 through confusion with Z. nummifer, Riippell. 



Figured in Bonaparte's ' Fauna Italica.' 



.". Zamenis diadema, Schlegel, 1837. 

 Z. cliffordii, Straiich. 



Scales more or less obtusely keeled, in 25 to 33 rows. Head-shields more or less 

 broken up, there being frequently three transverse series of shields between the 

 rostral and the frontal ; three or more praefrontals ; three to five loreals ; two to four 

 prae- and three or four postoculars ; a series of suboculars separates the labials from 

 the eye; temporals small, scale-like; 10 to 13 upper labials. Ventrals 210 to 27S ; 

 anal entire ; subcaudals 65 to 110. Pale buff' or sandy grey above, with more or less 

 marked dark spots, of which the median usually form a series of rhombs; lower parts 

 white, rarely with small blackish spots. 



Total length 1800 millim., tail 340. 



Ranges from the Algerian Sahara eastwards to North-western India. M. Lataste 

 collected specimens at Biskra, Wargla, and Wed Magra in Algeria, and at Mettamer 

 and Ferriana in Tunisia. The specimen from Biskra has 33 rows of scales, two from 

 Wargla 25, two others from AVargla 27, the one from Wed Magra 32, the one from 

 Mettamer 27, and the one from Ferriana 32. 



Figures: Jan, Icon. Gen. Ophid. livr. 20, pi. ii. ; GeofFioy, Descr. Egypte, Kept. 

 pi. viii. fig. 1. 



4. Teopidonotus, Kuhl, 1824. 



Maxillary teeth 12 to 22, posterior longest ; mandibulary teeth subequal. Head 

 distinct from neck ; eye moderate or rather large, with round pupil. Body cylindrical ; 

 scales keeled (rarely smooth), in 15 to 29 rows, with or without apical pits; ventrals 

 rounded ; subcaudals in two rows. Nasal bones very small ; vertebral hypapophyses 

 distinct throughout the vertebral column. 



Two species in Barbary. 



1. Tropidonotus natrix, Linnseus, 1766. 



.Scales in 19 rows. Seven upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye; usually 

 one prae- and three postoculars. Greyi.sh, brownish, or olive above, uniform or with 



