364 COLUBRID.E. 



Psammodynastes pulverulentus, Giinth. Cat. Col. Sn. p. 140 ; id. 



Kept. B. I. p. 292 ; Anders. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 183 ; Theob. Cat. 



p. 188. 

 Lycodon bairdi, Steindachn. Novara, Rept. p. 90. 



Snout short, somewhat turned up in the adult, with sharp can- 

 thus rostralis and projecting supraciliary edge ; rostral broader 

 than long, scarcely visible from above ; nostril in the middle of an 

 undivided nasal ; internasals much shorter than the praefrontals ; 

 frontal much longer than its distance from the end of the snout, 



Fig. 106. Head of Psammodynastes pulverulentus. 



a little shorter than the parietals ; loreal about as long as deep, 

 often transversely divided into two ; one or two prae- and two or 

 three postoculars ; temporals 2 + 3 ; upper labials 8, third, fourth, 

 and sometimes fifth entering the eye ; 3 lower labials in contact with 

 the anterior chin-shields, which are followed by two smaller pairs. 

 Scales in 17 (rarely 19) rows. Ventrals 146-175 ; anal entire ; 

 subcaudals 45-65. Dark brown or ochraceous above, with or 

 without small darker and lighter spots ; head with symmetrical 

 longitudinal markings ; a more or less distinct dark streak on each 

 side of the head, passing through the eye ; usually a dark brown 

 band along each side ; lower parts powdered with brown, and 

 with dark brown spots or longitudinal lines. 



Total length 20 inches ; tail 3'5. 



Hob. Eastern Himalayas, KMsi and Assam Hills, Burma and 

 Cochin China to the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. 



As observed by Giinther, this snake has a repulsive aspect : its 

 dark, undefined colours, short and thick head, and swollen lips, 

 caused by the large hidden fangs, give it the appearance of a 

 Viperine snake, for which it is often mistaken. 



