OPHIOPS. 173 



193. Cabrita jerdonii. 



Cabrita jerdonii, Beddome, Madras Monthly Journ. Med. Sc. 1870, 

 p. 34 ; Theob. Cat. p. 42 ; Bouleng. Cat. Liz. iii, p. 71. 



Differs from the preceding in the following points : A single 

 anterior nasal, followed by two postnasals ; labials not keeled, no 

 projecting labial margin ; usually one or two small azygos shields 

 between the pair of praefrontals ; no occipital. Dorsal scales as 

 large as the caudals, much larger than the laterals ; ventral plates 

 subequal ; 27 to 30 scales round the middle of the body. The 

 length of the foot is less than the distance between the antehumeral 

 fold and the nostril. Femoral pores 11 to 15. Brownish or 

 golden above, with two light lateral bands as in G. lescJienaultii, 

 which are, however, not bordered with black bands, but with 

 longitudinal series of black spots ; lips, and frequently also the 

 throat, speckled with black. 



Hub. G-odavari valley, extending north to Chutia Nagpur, and 

 south to Cuddapah. 



Genus OPHIOPS, 

 MenetriSs, Cat. Rais. p. 63, 1832. 



Head-shields normal. Nostril pierced between two to four 

 nasals. Eyelids immovable, the lower united with the upper, 

 with a very large transparent disk. Collar absent or very indis- 

 tinct. Dorsal scales imbricate and strongly keeled. Ventral 

 plates imbricate, smooth. Digits compressed, with sharply keeled 

 scales beneath. Femoral pores. Tail cylindrical. 



Fig. 53. Head of Ophiops beddomii. 



Distribution. North Africa, Turkey, South-western Asia, India. 

 6 species are known. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Upper head-scales rugose, keeled and striated ; 



28 to 35 scales round middle of body (ven- 



trals included). 



a. A single frontonasal 0. jerdonii, p. 174. 



6. Two or three frontonasals 0. beddomii, p. 174. 



