ASPIDUBA. 289 



342. Aspidura brachyorrhos. 



Scytale brachyorrhos, Boic, Isis, 1827, p. 517. 

 Aspidura scytale, Dum. Sf Bibr. Erp. Gen. vii, p. 128. 

 Aspidura brachyorrhos, part., Giint/t. Cat. Col. Sn. p. 14. 

 Aspidura scytale, part., Jan, Icon. Ophid. 13, pi. ii, tig. 2. 

 Aspidura brachyorrhos, Gunth. Rcpt. B. I. p. 202 ; Theob. Cat. p. 142. 



Rostral small, deeper than broad, scarcely visible from above ; 

 frontal a little longer tban its distance from the end of the snout, 

 two thirds the length of the parietals ; supraocular more than 

 half the length of the frontal ; prsofrontals in contact with the 

 second and third upper labials, separated from the eye by a prse- 

 ocular; two postoculars, lower the larger, both in contact with 

 the parietal ; temporals 1 + 2; 6 upper labials, first smallest, sixth 

 largest, fourth entering the eye ; 4 lower labials in contact with 

 the anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin-shields small and scale- 

 like. Scales in 17 rows, all perfectly smooth. Ventrals 139- 

 154 ; anal entire ; subcaudals 27-38. Pale yellowish or reddish 

 brown above, with four more or less indistinct darker longitudinal 

 streaks and a vertebral series of blackish dots ; an oblique blackish 

 cross-band on each side of the nape; belly uniform yellowish, 

 tail more or less abundantly freckled with brown. 



Total length 14'5 inches ; tail 1*65. 



Hob. Ceylon ; found only in the mountains. 



343. Aspidura copii. 



Aspidura copii, Gunth. Rept. B. I. p. 203, pi. xviii, fig. E ; Theob. 

 Cat. p. 143. 



Eostral small, deeper than broad, not visible from above ; frontal 

 a little longer than its distance from the end of the snout, three 

 fifths the length of the parietals ; supraocular very small, not half 

 the length of the frontal ; prsefrontals in contact with the second, 

 third, and fourth upper labials and with the eye ; no praeocular ; 

 two postoculars, lower the larger, both in contact with the parietal ; 

 temporals 1 + - ', 6 upper labials, first smallest, sixth largest, 

 fourth entering the eye; 4 lower labials in contact with the 

 anterior chin-shields (which, in the type specimen, happen to be 

 divided into two pairs) ; posterior chin-shields small and scale-like. 

 Scales in 17 rows, those on the sides of the anal region and on the 

 tail keeled in the male. Ventrals 125-150 ; anal undivided ; 

 subcaudals 20-33. Brown above, with two longitudinal series of 

 large, black, pale-edged spots; an oblique, black cross-band on 

 each side of the nape ; lower surface yellowish, spotted or freckled 

 with brown. 



Total length 16-5 inches ; tail 2-8. 



Hab. Ceylon (Districts of Dimbola and Dickoya, 4000-5000 

 feet). 



