150 ME. G. A. BOULENGER ON THE REPTILES 



those from the south of Spam (Badajos, coll. Latade; Andalusia, Brit. Mus.). The 

 number varies from 21 to 25, 23 being the usual number, in those from Casablanca, 

 Mogador, and Morocco (Coronella brevis, Gthr., Macroprotodon maroccanus, Peters) ; 

 out of 7 specimens from the city of Morocco, I find 5 with 23 rows, one with 21, and 

 one with 25, and variation in a nearly equal proportion is recorded by Boettger on 44 

 specimens from Casablanca. In Algerian and Tunisian specimens there are usually 

 19 rows, as in all those from the Baleares, Tripoli, and Egypt ; but I note 21 rows in 

 one from Tunis, and M. Lataste found the same number in one specimen from Batna. 

 Ventrals 153 to 192; anal divided ; subcaudals 40 to 51. The coloration also varies 

 greatly, and irrespective of the scaling. The large black blotch on the head, whence 

 the name cucullatiis, is not very frequent in occidental specimens ; but a dark collar, 

 descending to the sides of the neck, is usually present, and an oblique dark streak 

 below the eye is constant. The belly may be uniform yellowish or almost entirely 

 black ; it is usually yellowish, with quadrangular black spots, as in Coronella girondica 

 and amalice ; usually a dark streak along the middle of the subcaudal region. 



The largest specimen examined by me measures 490 millim., tail 85. 



This species inhabits the south of the Iberian Peninsula, the Baleares, and the 

 whole of North Africa, penetrating into the Sahara. It is common and generally 

 distributed in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. 



Figured by Guichenot, Explor. Sc. Alg., Rept. pi. ii. fig. 2. 



6. PsAMMOPHis, Boie, 1827. 



Maxillary teeth 10 to 13, one or two of the middle ones much enlarged, fang-like, and 

 preceded and followed by an interspace, the two posterior grooved ; anterior mandibular 

 teeth long, posterior small. Head elongate, distinct from neck, with angular canthus 

 rostralis ; eye rather large, with round pupil. Body elongate, cylindrical ; scales 

 smooth, in 15 or 17 rows, with apical pits ; ventrals roundeil or obtusely angulated 

 laterally ; tail long ; subcaudals in two rows. 



A single species in Barbary. 



1. PSAMMOPHIS SIBILANS, LinnsBus, 1766. 

 Ps. punciatus, D. & B., Gervais. 



Head narrow and elongate ; internasals much shorter than the prsefrontals ; frontal 

 very narrow, in contact with the prseocular ; loreal much elongate ; one or two prae- 

 and two or three postoculars ; eight or nine upper labials, fourth and fifth, or fifth and 

 sixth ^ entering the eye. Scales in 17 rows. Brown or greenish above, with longitu- 



AU the specimens obtained in Algeria and Tunis by M. Lataste have 9 upper labials, fifth and sixth 

 entering the eye (var. punctata, D. & B.). 



