312 COLUBBID^. 



377. Simotes albocinctus *. 



Coronella albocincta, Cantor, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 50. 



Xenodon purpurascens. part., Cantor, J. A. S. B. xvi, 1847, p. 914 ; 



Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxiii, 1854, p. 289. 



Coronella puncticulatus, Gray, A. M. N. H. (2) xii, 1853, p. 389. 

 Simotes punctulatus, Giinth. Rept. JB. I. p. 217 ; Anders. P. Z. S. 



1871, p. 169 ; Theob. Cat. p. 152. 



Simotes albocinctus, part., Giinth. 1. c. p. 218; Theob. I. c. p. 153. 

 Simotes amabilis, Giinth. A. M. N. H. (4) i, 1868, p. 416, pi. xvii, 



fig. A ; Theob. I. c. p. 153. 



Nasal divided ; portion of rostral seen from above shorter than 

 its distance from the frontal ; suture between the internasals shorter 

 than that between the praefrontals : frontal longer than its distance 

 from the end of the snout, as long as the parietals ; loreal as long as 

 deep or a little longer, seldom united with the prrcf rental ; prseocular 

 single or (rarely) divided into two; two postoculars ; temporals 

 1 +2 ; normally 7 upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye : 

 4, rarely 5, lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields ; 

 posterior chin-shields about two thirds the length of the anterior. 

 Scales in 19 rows. Ventrals 177-205 ; anal undivided ; subcaudals 

 53-69. Brown or brick-red above ; head yellowish with a dark 

 brown or black-edged red crescentic band across the forehead to 

 below each eye, sometimes interrupted in the middle, an oblique 

 one on each side from the parietal to behind the angle of the mouth, 

 and a chevron-shaped one from the frontal to the nape, sometimes 

 with a detached round spot in front. In the typical form, described 

 by Cantor and by Gray, the upper parts are unspotted, with 27 to 

 30 (or 34) light black-edged bands two scales wide, separated by 

 5 to 8 series of scales ; in the young specimen (type of 8. amabiUs) 

 these bands are similar but in increased number, viz. 55, and only 

 3 or 4 scales apart. Other specimens are dotted and spotted with 

 dark brown, the largest spots transversely elliptical and forming a 

 dorsal series, or roundish and arranged in pairs ; or more or less 

 irregular narrow blackish cross-bands may be present. Lower sur- 

 face yellowish or coralline-red, more or less spotted or marbled 

 with black ; in some specimens the black spots are small, squarish, 

 far apart, and confined to the sides, whilst in others the black 

 predominates on the belly; or the ventrals may be alternately 

 black and yellow. 



Total length 32 inches ; tail 5. 



Hab. Eastern and Central Himalayas (to 4000 feet) ; Assam ; 

 Kbasi and Arrakan Hills. 



378. Simotes violaceus. 



Cantor, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 5 

 iinth. Rept. B. I. p. 215. 

 Simotes swinhonis, Giinth. I. c. p. 215, pi. xx, fig. E. 



Coronella violacea, Cantor, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 50. 

 Simotes ciuereus, Giinth. Rept. B. I. p. 215. 



* Simotes albocinctus, Duin. & Bibr. Erp. Gen. 1854=5. purjmrascens, Schleg. 

 1837 



