4S6 



LINN^AN SNAKE. 



Coluber Linnsei. C. albidus, zonis transuersis nigris sub-bifidis, 

 abdomine nigro variato. 



Whitish Snake, with black sub-bifid transverse zones, and ab- 

 domen variegated with black. 



Coluber iEsculapii. Lin, S^st. Nat. p. 380. 



Serpentis iEsculapii species. Seb. 2. t, 18. f. 4. ? 



Serpens Ceilanica, &c. Seb. 2. t. 76. f. 2. 



Abdominal scuta 180, subcaudal scales 43. 



This is much allied in appearance to the lemnis- 

 catus, generally measuring about a foot and half, 

 or two feet in length : its colour is pale or whitish, 

 with a more obscure cast on the back, and is 

 marked throughout by nearly equidistant black 

 bands, each surrounding the body and divided 

 half way up from the abdomen by a line or nar- 

 row stripe of the ground-colour ; thus giving a 

 bifid appearance to the lower part of each band : 

 the abdomen is marked into black squares by the 

 alternation of the bands beneath : the head is co- 

 vered with large scales, and marked on the fore 

 part by a transverse black zone running across the 

 eyes, and at the hind part by a somewhat broader 

 band: the tail is of moderate length, and gradually 

 tapers to a somewhat obtuse point. This snake is a 

 native of South America, but is also said to occur 

 in some parts of Asia. It is by Linnseus termed 

 Coluber JEsculapii, but since it is not very proba- 

 ble that it should have been the species dedicated 

 to that deity by the ancients, there seems to be a 



