54. ZAMENIS. 379 



54. ZAMENIS. 



Hsemovrhois, Bote, Isis, 1826, p. 982, and 1827, p. C38 (nom. nud.) : 



Eichw. Faun. Casp.-Cauc. p. 113 (1841). 

 Tyria, part., Fitzing. N. Class. Rept. p. 29 (1826). 

 Zamenis, part., Wagl. Syst. Amph. p. 188 (1830). 

 Penops, Waffl. I c. p. 189 ; Dum. ^Bibr. Frp. Gin. vii. p. 674 (18.'54): 



Jan, Elenco sist. Ofid. p. 59 (1863). 

 Coluber, part., ScMey. Fhys. Serp. ii. p. 125 (1837). 

 Psammopliis, part., Sckleg. I. c. p. 201. 

 Zamenis, Dum. Sf Bibr.'t. ,.-. p. 683; Gilnth. Cat. Col. Sn. p. 101 



(1858) ; Jan, I. c. p. 65 : Giinth. Mept. Brit. Ind. p. 252 (1864) • 



Bncourt, Miss. So. Me.v., Rept. p. 663 (1888): Boulenq. Faun. 



Ind., Rept. p. 323 (1890). J' J 



Bascanion, Baird ^ Gir. Cat. N. Am. Rept. p. Q'i (1853) ; Bocovrt 



op. at. p. 697 (1890) ; Cope, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xiv. 1892, 



p. 621. 

 Masticophis, Baird ^ Gir. I. e. p. 98 ; Jan, I. c. p. 64. 

 Salvadora, Baird 8f Gir. I. c. p. 104 ; Jan, I. c. p. 58 ; Bocovrt, I. c. 



p. 660 (1888) ; Cope, I. c. p. 618. ' ^ ' > 



Coryphodon, part., Dum. 8f Bihr. t. c. p. 180; Giinth. Cat. p. 107 ; 



Jan, I. c. p. 63. f > 



Herpetodryas, part., Dum. Sf Bihr. t. c. p. 203 ; Giinth. Cat. p. 113 ; 



Jan, I. c. p. 80. 

 Leptophis, part., Durt}. Sf Bihr. t. c. p. 528. 

 Ptyas, Coi^e, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1860, p. 563 : Gunth. Rept. Brit. Ind. 



p. 248. ^ 



Phimothyra, Cope, I. c. p. 566. 



Platyceps, Blytk, Journ. As. 8oc. Beng. xxix. 1860, p. 114. 

 Tyria, Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1862, p. 338. 

 Megablabes, Giinth: Ami. li^ Mag. N. H. (3) xv. 1865, p. 92. 

 Spalerosophis, Jan, in De Filippi, Viagg. Pars. p. 356 (1865). 

 Chilolepis, Cope, Proc. Am. Philos. Soc. xxiii. 1886, p. 491. 

 Drymobius, part., Bocourt, op. cit. p. 715 (1890). 



Maxillary teeth 12 to 20, increasing in size posteriorly, forming 

 a continuous series or the two last separated from the others by a 

 very narrow interspace; mandibular teeth subequal, or anterior 

 slightly enlarged. Head elongate, distinct from neck ; eye mode- 

 rate or large, with round pupil; usually one or more suboculars. 

 Eody elongate, cylindrical ; scales smooth or feebly keeled, with 

 apical pits, in 13 to 43 rows ; ventrals rounded or with an obtuse 

 lateral keel. Tail moderate or long ; subeaudals in two rows. 



Europe ; Asia ; North Africa ; feenegambia ; North and Central 

 America. 



As observed by Dr. Giinther in 1864 (Eept. Brit. Ind. p. 252), 

 the species of this genus afford a complete transition i'rom the 

 "Corypbodont" dentition as exemplified by Z. Icorros or Z. con- 

 strictor to the somewhat ill-defined " Diacranterian " type as shown 

 by Z. gemonensis, the skull of which is here figured. 



