COLUBER HIPPOCREPIS. 227 



the tip, with a black spot at the base contiguous to the tip 

 of the preceding scale ; the plates of the belly are much 

 more occupied by dark streaks than in the typical animal, 

 and along each side of the tail runs a wavy line of light 

 ash. 



Entire length, from 3 to 4 or even 5 feet. 



M. Crespon, in his ' Faune Meridionale,' records an in- 

 stance where one of these snakes was taken when swal- 

 lowing a young rabbit. 



It is not rare in the Department du Gard, and occurs 

 elsewhere in the South of France. Inhabits Dalmatia, 

 the Ionian Islands, Istria, and Spain. In Italy, has oc- 

 curred near Mee, and in Sicily. Said to be a native also 

 of North Africa. 



It is not mentioned in the ' Erpetologie Generale.' 



Coluber hippocrepis. 



Periops hippocrepis, Dun. et Bib. vol. vii. p. 675. 

 Coluber hippocrepis, Schinz, Europ. Faun. vol. ii. p. 51 ; Buon. Faun. 

 ItaL (figured). 



Description. — Head wide behind, prolonged, distinct from 

 the body ; the labial plates do not touch upon the eye ; a 

 series of subocular plates intervening between them ; the 

 labial plates are nine in number on each side; on the 

 temple are sixteen small scales; the frontal plates are 

 wide, pressed down on the muzzle, which inclines di- 

 stinctly downwards ; the scales of the back are long, very 

 oblique, imbricated with blunt points, not keeled, forming 

 twenty-seven longitudinal rows ; ventral plates, 246 ; sub- 

 caudal, ninety-eight pairs ; anal double ; the ventral plates 

 rise somewhat on the flanks ; the tail is stout, not long, 

 and, like the belly, flat beneath. The colouring varies con- 

 siderably, but the ground is generally dull yellow or red- 

 brown, with dark spots on the back and sides, those on 



