AND BATEACHIANS OF BARBAET. 149 



black spots ; young with a yellow, black-edged collar, which may disappear in the 

 adult, A variety (j)ersa. Pall., murorum, Bp.) with two whitish or yellowish stripes 

 along the back is common in Italy, but has not been found in Algeria. 



Total length one metre or more. 



Found all over Europe, Western and Central Asia. Rare in Algeria ; not recorded 

 from Morocco or Tunisia. Dr. Strauch found it at Algiers, M. Lataste at La ChifFa, 

 Algiers, and Tifret, and Dr. Hagenmiiller on Mt. Edough, near Bona. 



Figures : Bonaparte, ' Fauna Italica ' {Natrix torquata). 



2. Tkopidonotus viperinus, Latr., 1802. 



Scales in 21 rows, rarely 2.3 (one specimen from L'Arba and one from Cabes, 

 Lataste). Seven upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye ; one or two prse- 

 and two postoculars. Greyish, brownish, or reddish, with a more or less distinct 

 black zigzag stripe along the back and ocelli on the sides ; frequently (var. ocellata, 

 Wagl., aurolineata, Gervais) two pale stripes along the back. 



Total length 850 niillim. 



Common all over Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, wherever water occurs, for this 

 species is still more aquatic than the preceding. Inhabits also the Iberian Peninsula, 

 France, Switzerland, and Italy. 



Figure: Bonaparte, 'Fauna Italica.' 



5. Macropeotodon, Guichenot, 1850. 



Maxillary teeth 10 or 11, fourth and fifth or fifth and sixth enlarged, followed by an 

 interspace, the two posterior grooved ; mandibular teeth increasing in size to the sixth, 

 which is followed by an interspace, the posterior teeth small. Head short, slightly 

 distinct from neck ; eye small, with vertically subeUiptic pupil. Body moderately 

 elongate, cylindrical; scales smooth, in 19 to 25 rows, with apical pits; ventrals 

 rounded ; tail moderate ; subcaudals in two rows. 



1. Macropeotodon cucullatus, Geofiroy, 1S27. 



M. niauritanicus, Guichenot. — Lycognathus taniatus et textilis, Dum. & Bibr. — Coronella brevis, 

 Giintlier. — M. maroccanus, Peters. 



The unique species of this genus bears a general similarity to the Palaearctic species 

 of Coronella, from which it is, however, easily distinguished by the much depressed 

 snout, the subelliptic pupil, the very broad and low rostral shield, and the presence of 

 a single anterior temporal, which is usually separated from the postoculars, the sixth 

 upper labial touching the parietal. Eight upper labials, fourth and fifth entering the 

 eye ; one prse- and two postoculars. The number of rows of scales varies from 19 to 25. 

 Specimens from Tangier and Tetuan appear to have constantly 21 rows of scales, like 



VOL. XIII. — PAST III. No. 8. — October, 1891. z 



