515 



SMOOTH SNAKE. 



Coluber Austriacus. C. griseo-ccerukscens Icevissimus, serie dor- 

 sali duplici macularum rufarum, lateribus abdomiiieque rufes- 

 centibus. 



Blueish-grey polished Snake, with a double dorsal row of ru- 

 fous spots, and rufescent sides and abdomen. 

 Coronella Austriaca. Laurenli Amj)h. p. 84. t. 5.f. 1. 

 La Lisse. Cepede Serp. p. 158. 

 Abdominal scuta 178, subcaudal scales 46. 



This snake, which in its general appearance 

 and manners bears a considerable resemblance to 

 the Natrh', seems to have been first described as 

 a distinct species by Lauren ti, who, in his work 

 on the Amphibia, has distinguished it by the title 

 of Coronella Austriaca, being common m the re- 

 gion round Vienna. It is also found in France 

 and several other parts of Europe. Its principal 

 mark of distinction from the Natrix is the perfect 

 smoothness of its scales ; those of the Natrix being- 

 somewhat carinated : its colour on the upper parts 

 is blueish grey, inclining to rufous on the sides 

 and abdomen : along the back runs a double row 

 of alternate rufous spots : a few others, somewhat 

 less distinct, appear along each side, and the ab- 

 domen is variegated with patches of a similar 

 cast : the eyes are red, and through them, from 

 the nostrils to the back of the cheeks, passes a 

 narrow rufous stripe : two moderately large spots 

 also appear at the back of the head, immediately 

 bieyond the large scales : in a young state the ab- 

 domen is often of a much brighter cast, or red : 



