Ophiops. 213 



6, rarely 7, pairs of chiu-sliields, the three anterior, exceptionally 4 

 or 2, in contact in the middle ; gular scales large, flat, imbricate except 

 the anterior, 16 to 19 in a straight line in the middle; gular fold 

 absent or very feebly marked. Collar free only on the sides. 



Dorsal scales gradually increasing in size from the nape to the tail, 

 with strong keels forming oblique lines, the laterals as large or a little 

 smaller, larger and smooth towards the ventral plates, which are 

 broader than long and in 6 longitudinal and 26 to 32 transverse 

 series ; by reckoning as ventral plates the smooth lateral scales which 

 are of the same length, the ventral plates may be described as in 8, or 

 sometimes even 10 longitudinal series ; 32 to 41 scales and plates 

 round the middle of the body, usually 34 to 40.* Usually a large 

 preanal plate, bordered by one or two semicircles of smaller plates or 

 scales ; the preanal region sometimes covered with small plates of 

 nearly equal size. 



Scales on upper surface of tibia rhombic and keeled, small. 9 to 

 12 femoral pores on each side, rarely 7, 8, or 13. Subdigital lamellse 

 bi- or tricarinate, 20 to 25 under the fourth toe. 



Caudal scales strongly keeled, upper larger than lower and much 

 larger than the dorsals, 16 to 24 iu the fourth or fifth whorl behind 

 the postanal granules. 



Yellowish grey, brown, or olive above, usually with two whitish 

 streaks on each side, the upper from the superciliary edge to the tail, 

 the lower from the upper lip, through the tympanum, to the base of the 

 hind hmb ; these light streaks usually bordered by black spots, which 

 may be confluent into streaks ; a black vertebral streak often present 

 on the nape. In some adult specimens the light streaks are absent, 

 and the black spots are irregularly distributed or show a tendency to 

 form wavy cross-bars. Tail often reddish iu the distal half. Lower 

 parts white. 



Measurements (in millimetres) : 



* Having counted the scales and plates round the middle of the body in 

 70 specimens from Angora, I find 16 with 36, 12 with 37, 11 with 38, 8 with 40, 

 7 with 39, 6 with 35, 6 with 34, 2 with 33, 1 with 32 and 1 with 41. 



