AND BATEACHIANS OF BAEBAET. 143 



Suborder III. OPHIDIA. 



The Snakes of Barbary belong to three families, distinguished as follows : — 



Mandible with coronoid element ; maxillary horizontal ; prsefrontal bones forming 

 a suture with nasals ; vestiges of pelvis terminating in a claw-like spur visible on 

 each side of the vent 1- Boidse. 



Mandible without coronoid element : maxillary horizontal ; prajfrontals not 



forming a suture with nasals ; no rudiments of pelvis 2. Colubridse. 



Mandible without coronoid element ; maxillary vertically erectile, perpendicular 

 to ti'anspalatine; prsefrontals not forming a suture with nasals; no rudiments 

 of pelvis 3. Viperidse. 



Fam. 1. BOID.^. 

 A single genus. 



1. Eryx, Daudin, 1803. 



Anterior maxillary and mandibular teeth a little longer than posterior. Head 

 covered with small scales ; a mental groove. Eye very small, with vertical pupil. 

 Scales very small, smooth or keeled. Tail very short, not or but very slightly pre- 

 hensile ; subcaudals simple. 



1. Eryx jaculus, Linnseus, 1766. 



Rostral large, with angular horizontal edge ; nine to eleven upper labials, separated 

 from the eye by one or two series of scales. Scales smooth, in 40 to 50 longitudinal 

 rows. Pale greyish or yellowish brown above, with large dark brown transverse 

 blotches or alternating spots ; belly white, uniform or with black dots. 



Total length 510 raillim., tail 45. 



Inhabits North Africa, Greece, Turkey, and South-western Asia. Strauch records 

 the snake from Oran and the Algerian Sahara, and M. Lataste obtained it at Wed 

 Magra, Barika, and Ngaous, between Msila and Batna. A specimen was obtained in 

 Tunisia at Bir-oum-Ali, south of Tebesa, near Tamesmida, by M. Sedillot. Not on 

 record from Morocco. 



Figured, ' Description de I'Egypte,' Kept. pi. vi. fig. 2. 



Fam. 2. COLUBRID^. 

 The Col'uh'idce of Barbary belong to 8 genera, falling into three divisions or series : — 



A. Aglypha. No grooved fangs. Harmless. 

 «. Scales smooth or feebly keeled. 



Head short; pupil round ; no subocular 1. Coronella. 



Snout cuneiform ; pupil vertically elliptic 2. Lytorhynchus. 



y2 



