150 



DR. J. ANDERSON ON REPTILES AND 



[May 21, 



Ou the neck there is a narrow interrupted blackish mesial line, 

 becoming more marked as it is traced backwards, and so broad at 

 the anterior fourth as to cover the greater part of tbe back, 

 ultimately extending over the whole of the dorsal surface and pro- 

 ducing the purplish-brown colour already referred to. Externally 

 to the dark area, about the middle of the body, there are a few black 

 scales on the sides and on the angles of the ventrals. The upper 

 surface of the head olive-greyish. Upper lips pale greyish-yellow. 

 Under surface of neck anteriorly yellowish, passing into dusky, 

 which is the general colour of the ventrals, which have darker 

 borders, whereas the under surface of the terminal fourth of the 

 body is dark purplish-brown. 



It recalls in its coloration the snake froni Ogaden in Somaliland 

 described by Boettger 1 under the name of Z. ladacensis var. 

 subnigra, but differs from it in some details, but of such little 

 importance that the type of coloration first indicated by Boettger 

 may be said to be common to individuals of Z. rhodorhachis from 

 both sides of the Bed Sea in the latitude of Aden. 



Tbe type of Boettger' s var. subnigra bad ventrals 213, anals 1/1, 

 caudals 118, and scales 19. 



21. Tarbophis guentheri Anderson. 

 1 $ . Abian country. 



Snout 

 to vent. 



650 



Tail. 

 125 



V. 



229 



A. 

 1 



C. 

 65 



Number of 



dark dorsal 



spots. 



Ill-defined, not 

 sufficiently distinct 

 to be counted. 



Prceocular. 

 1 



Scales. 



21 



Relation of 

 prteocular 

 to frontal. 



In contact. 



Upper 

 labials. 



9-f9 



Labials 

 entering eye. 



3, 4, & 5 



Post- 

 oculars. 



Temporals. 



R. 2 + 3. 

 L. 2 + 4. 



The coloration of this specimen resembles that of the specimen 

 already recorded from Lahej. The undivided anal, the number 

 of the scales round the body being less than 23, and the 

 arrangement of the labials entering the orbit, are all characters 

 distinctive of this form, which, however, is very closely allied to 

 T. obtusus lleuss. 



22. CffiLOPELTIS MOILENSIS BeUSS. 



1 2 • Abian country. 



Snout to 

 vent. 



Tail. V. A. 



C. 



Upper 



Scales. labials. 



Labials 

 entering eye. 



495 



135 167 1/1 



G9 



17 8 



4&5 



Prteoculars. 



Relation of 

 pra;ocular and 

 frontal. 



Post- 

 oculars. 



Temporals. 



Nasal. Loreal. 



1 



Widely separated. 



2-1-2 



2+3 



1 1 



1 Zool. Anz. 1893, p. 118. 



