319 



Nasal divided ; portion of rostral seen from above half as long 

 as its distance from the frontal ; suture between the internasals as 

 long as that between the prsefrontals, or a little shorter ; frontal 

 much longer than its distance from the end of the snout, as long as 

 the parietals ; no loreal, the posterior nasal sometimes forming a 

 suture with the prseocular ; praoocular single ; two postoculars ; 

 temporals 1+2, or 1 + 1 + 2; upper labials 7, third and fourth 

 entering the eye ; 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin- 

 shields ; posterior chin-shields about two thirds the length of the 

 anterior. Scales in 17 rows. Ventrals 129-142 ; anal divided ; 

 subcaudals 25-36. Brown above, Avith more or less distinct darker 

 cross-lines; head with dark symmetrical transverse markings, which 

 are usually connected by a median longitudinal streak. Lower 

 surface white (in spirit) with square black spots, both colours 

 being distributed in nearly equal proportion. 



Total length 13 inches ; tail 2. 



Hob. Anaimalai Hills. 



389. Oligodon brevicauda. 



Oligodoii brevicauda, Giinth. A. M. N. H. (3) ix, 1862, p. 58 ; id. 

 Rept. B. I. p. 211, pi. xix, fig. A ; Theob. Cat. p. 148. 



Nasal divided ; portion of rostral seen from above longer than 

 its distance from the frontal ; no interuasals ; frontal longer than 

 its distance from the end of the snout, as long as the parietals ; no 

 loreal, the posterior nasal forming a suture with the preeocular ; 

 praeocular single ; two postoculars ; temporals 1+2; upper labials 

 7, third and fourth entering the eye ; 4 lower labials in contact 

 with the anterior chin-shields; posterior chin-shields about two thirds 

 the length of the anterior. Scales in 15 rows. Ventrals 173-195; 

 anal divided ; subcaudals 25-29. Brown above, with a light verte- 

 bral baud, most marked posteriorly, bordered on each side by a dark 

 brown or black band ; a black narrow streak along each side ; a 

 rhomboidal dark spot on the frontal, confluent with a broad crescentic 

 transverse band anteriorly, which passes through the eyes ; a dark 

 band from behind the eye to the angle of the mouth ; a large dark 

 nuchal spot. Lower surface red, with large quadrangular or 

 transverse black spots ; tail without, or with only a few, black 

 spots. 



Total length 18'5 inches ; tail 2. 



Hob. Anaimalai Hills. 



390. Oligodon dorsalis. 



Elaps dorsalis, Gray, III. Ind. Zool. ii, pi. Ixxxv, tig. 1. 

 Oligodou dorsalis, Giinth. Rept. B. I. p. 210 ; Anders. P. Z. S. 1871, 

 p. 108 ; Theob. Cat. p. 148. 



Nasal divided ; portion of rostral seen from above shorter than 

 its distance from the frontal ; suture between the internasals as 



