ZAMENIS. 325 



Coryphodon blumenbachii, Dum. < Bibr. Erp. Gen. vii, p. 184 ; Jan, 



Icon. Ophid. 24, pi. iii, figs. 2-4. 



Leptophis trifrenatus, Hallow. Proc. Ac. Philad. 1860, p. 503. 

 Ptyas mucosus, Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1860, p. 563; Giinth. JKevt. 



B. I. p. 249 ; Stoliczka, J. A. 8. B. xxxix, 1870, p. 185 ; Blanf. 



J. A. S. B. xxxix, 1870, p. 372 ; Theob. Cat. p. 1C8 ; Anders. An. 



Zool Ees. Yunnan, p. 815 ; Boettg. Zool. Jahrb. iii, 1888, p. 931. 



Snout obtuse, slightly projecting ; eye large ; rostral a little 

 broader than deep, visible from above ; suture between the inter- 

 nasals shorter than that between the praefrontals ; frontal as long 

 as its distance from the end of the snout, as long ns the parietals or 

 .slightly shorter ; usually three loreals ; one large prseocular, with 

 a small subocular below; two postoculars; temporals 2+2; 8 

 upper labials, fourth and fifth entering the eye ; 5 lower labials 

 in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are shorter than 

 the posterior ; the latter in contact anteriorly. Scales more or less 

 strongly keeled on the posterior part Df the back, in 17 rows. 

 Ventrals 190-208 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 95-135. Brown 

 above, frequently with more or less distinct black cross-bands on 

 the posterior part of the body and on the tail ; young usually with 

 light cross- bands on the front half of the body. Lower surface 

 yellowish ; the posterior ventral and the caudal shields may be 

 edged with black. 



The largest specimen in the British Museum is 6 feet long, the 

 tail measuring 1^ foot. Mr. Blanford records one 7 feet 7 inches 

 long. This is commonly known in India as the rat-snake ; dhamin 

 in Hindi. 



Hob. India and Ceylon, Afghanistan, Burma, Southern China, 

 Siam, Malay Peninsula, Java. 



398. Zamenis ventrimaculatns. 



Coluber ventroniaculatu?, Gray, III. Ind. Zool. ii, pi. Ixxx, fig. 1. 

 Coluber chesnei, Martin, P. Z. S. 1838, p. 81. 

 Coluber diadema(won Schleg.\ Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxiii, 1854, p. 291. 

 Platyceps semifasciatus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxix, 1860, p. 114. 

 Zamenis ventrimaculatus, Giinth. Kept. B. 1. p. 253 ; Stoliczka, P. 



A. S. B. 1872, p. 82 ; Blanf. J. A. S. B. xliv, 1875, p. 208; Theob. 



Cat. p. 169 ; Murray, Zool. Sind, p. 378. 

 Zamenis persicus, Jan, Icon. Ophid. 23, pi. ii, fig. 1. 

 Coluber (Platyceps) semifasciatus, Theob. Cat. Eept. As. Soc. Mus. 



1868, p. 52. 

 Compsosoma semifasciata, Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xxxix, 1870, p. 188, 



pi. xi, fig. 2 ; Theob. Cat. p. 164. 

 Zamenis ventrimaculatus, part., Blanf. Zool. E. Pers. p. 414. 



Snout obtuse, feebly projecting ; rostral as deep as broad or a 

 little broader than deep, hollowed out beneath ; the portion of the 

 rostral visible from above not so long as half its distance from the 

 frontal ; suture between the internasals as long as that between 

 the prsefrontals or a little shorter ; frontal as long as its distance 

 from the end of the snout or slightly longer, shorter than the parie- 

 tals : loreal usually not longer than deep ; one prseocular, with a 

 small subocular below ; two postoculars ; temporals 2-f 2 or 2 + 3 ; 



