R E P T I L I A. 



ORDER OPHIDIA. 



The following have been determined by Dr. Gunther : 



Rhyncocalamus melanocephalus, Gunther. This little snake was cap- 

 tured by Laurence at Petra. The genus, which was founded by Dr. 

 Gunther for this species, contains as yet no other representative, and it was 

 believed peculiar to the Jordan Valley. As in other instances, the Widy 

 'Arabah, or the wAdies leading to it, extends the range of the Jordanic 

 forms of life. According to Wallace, with the exception of three American 

 species, the small family of Oligodontidse, to which this genus belongs, is 

 confined to India, China, Japan, and the neighbouring islands. 



Zamenis ventrimaculatus, Gray. I shot an individual of this species 

 in Widy Zelegah, in Sinai. This snake ranges from Egypt to Belooch- 

 istan. 



Z. atrovirens, Shaw. A snake of this species was killed on the 

 plains of Southern Judaea. It is common in Southern Europe and 

 Palestine. The black variety, Z. carbonarius, was, I believe, killed 

 during our march in Sinai, in Widy Nasb, but it was unfortunately 

 destroyed. 



Z. elegantissimus, Gunther. This prettily- marked little snake was 

 captured at 'Akabah. It was described first by Dr. Gunther from a 

 specimen brought from Midian in lat. 26° 30' in 1878. Its distribution is, 



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