SEPOPHIS. 225 



rounded behind, with a small shield [interparietal] between them, 

 which is let iiito the posterior base of the vertical ; five plates 

 (some divided) over the eye, and between it and the vertical and 

 postfrontat ; upper labials 8-9, the fourth and fifth below the eye, 

 some large shields over the posterior ones ; the distance between 

 the axils of the fore and hind limbs is a little more than 1| inch ; 

 colour of a uniform dark brown ; hind limbs a little more than 

 halt' an inch long; fore limbs very slender, and not quite a quarter 

 inch long.'' 



Hob. On the sandy banks of the Kuddle Poondy, a tidal river 

 near Beypore. 



Genus SEPOPHIS, 

 Beddorue, Madras Journ. Med. Sc. 1870. 



Palatine bones not meeting on the median Hue of the palate, 

 which is toothless. Teeth conical. Eye small ; lower eyelid scaly. 



Fig. (51. Upper tind side views of head of Sepophis punctatus. 



Ear-opening distinct, minute. Nostril pierced between the rostral, 

 the first labial, and a supranasal ; two froutals ; no praefrontals ; 

 froutoparietals present. Body much elongate; limbs absent. 

 A single species. 



263. Sepophis punctatus. 



Russell, 2nd. tier p. i, pi. xlii. 



Sepsophis punctatus, liedd. Madras Journ. Med. Sci. 1870 ; Bouleny. 

 Cat. Liz. iii, p. 423, pi. xxxvii, fig. 2. 



Snout obtuse, scarcely projecting beyond the labial margin ; 

 supranasals forming a median suture and in contact with the first 

 and second upper labials ; 4 azygos shields on the upper surface of 

 the head, first 3 broader than long, first (the frontonasal) largest, 

 second a little smaller than third, fourth smallest ; 4 supraoculars, 

 first and second in contact with the first frontal ; 6 supraciliaries ; 

 frontoparietals separated ; parietals narrow ; fourth upper labial 

 entering the orbit. 20 scales round the middle of the body. Prae- 

 anals scarcely enlarged. A bud-like rudiment of the fore limb 

 externally. Tail as long as head and body. Cream-coloured ; 



Q 



