EBTX. 



247 



the posterior. Head covered with small scales. No mental groove. 

 Eye very small, with vertical pupil. Scales very small, keeled. 

 Tail very short, slightly prehensile : subcaudals simple. 

 A single species. 



287. Gongylophis conicus. 



Russell, Ind. Serp. i, pi. iv. 



Boa conica, Schneid. Hist. Amph. ii, p. 268, id, Denkschr, Munch. 



Acad. vii, 1821, p. 119, pi. vi, fig. 2. 

 Gongylophis conicus, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 45 ; Giinth. Kept. B. I. 



p. 333 ; Theob. Cat. p. 207 ; Murray, Zool. Sind, p. 386. 

 Eryx conicus, Dum. 8f Bibr. Erp. Gen. vi, p. 470 ; Jan, Icon, Ophid. 



p. 73, 1. 4, pi. iii. 



Fig. 75. Gongylophis conicus. 



Rostral about twice as broad as deep, feebly prominent, not 

 keeled ; only the nasals and internasals enlarged, the rest of the 

 head covered with small obtusely keeled scales ; 8 to 10 scales 

 from eye to eye across the forehead ; 10 to 15 scales round the 

 eye, which is separated from the labials by one or two rows of 

 scales; 12 to 14 upper labials. Scales tubercularly keeled ; the 

 keels very strong on the tail, in 40 to 47 rows. Ventrals 168-176 ; 

 anal entire ; subcaudals 17-24. Tail tapering to a point. Yellowish 

 or brownish grey, with a broad zigzag band or series of dark brown 

 black-edged spots along the back ; lower parts uniform white. 



Total length 2 feet ; tail 2 inches. 



Hab. India, from Sind to Bengal and the Anaimallai Hills. Feeds 

 on mice ; a specimen I kept alive showed a fierce temper. 



Genus ERYX, 



Daudin, Hist. Rept. vii, p. 251 (part.), 1803. 

 Anterior maxillary and mandibulary teeth a little longer than 



