SIMOTES. 309 



The Snake described by Giinther as Coronella orientalis (Rept. 

 B. I. p. 236) is a South-American Liopliis, L. [AUabes] purpuraiis, 

 D. & B., the type of which (no. 3638) I have recently examined in 

 the Paris Museum. 



374. Coronella brachyura. 



Zamenis brachyurus, Giinth. A. ^f. N. If. (3) xviii, 1866, p. 27, pi. vi. 

 fig. A ; Blanf. J. A. S. B. xxxix, 1870, p. 372; Anders. P. Z. S. 

 1871, p. 170; Theob. Cat. -p. 171. 



Rostral broader than deep, visible from above ; suture between 

 the interasals shorter than that between the prafrontals ; frontal 

 as long as its distance from the end of the snout, a little shorter 

 than the parietals ; loreal as long as deep ; one przeocular ; two 

 postoculars ; temporals 2 + 2; eight upper labials, fourth and 

 fifth entering the eye ; five lower labials in contact with the an- 

 terior chin-shields, which are slightly longer than the posterior ; 

 the latter widely separated from each other by three series of scales. 

 Scales in 23 rows. Ventrals 213-223; anal undivided; subcaudals 

 43-53. Olive-brown above, with rather indistinct light variegations 

 on the anterior half of the body ; lower surface whitish. 



Total length 17 inches ; tail 2-2. 



Nab. Deccan ; the type specimen is from Poona ; a second speci- 

 men was obtained by Mr. Blanford near Wun, in South-eastern 

 Berar. 



Genus SIMOTES, 

 Dura. & Bibr. Erp. Gen. vii, p. 624, 1804. 



Maxillary teeth 8 to 12, posterior very strongly enlarged and 

 compressed ; mandibnlar teeth subequal. Head short, not distinct 

 from neck ; eye rather small, with round pupil ; head-shields 



Fig. 97. Head and dentition of SL/iotes albocinctus. 



i 



usually normal, rostral large. Body cylindrical ; scales smooth 

 (or feebly keeled), in 13 to 21 rows, with or without apical pits ; 

 ventrals rounded or obtusely keeled laterally ; tail short or mode- 

 rate ; subcaudals in two rows. 



