SILTBtTRA. 



257 



Mytilia templetonii, Gray, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 2(3J. 

 Rhinophis blythii, part,', Gimlh. Rept. E. I. p. 186 ; Theob. Cat. 

 p. 130. 



Snout acutely pointed ; rostral very slightly compressed, about 

 oue third the length of the shielded part of the head; frontal 

 longer than broad. Diameter of body 22 to 32 times in the total 

 length. 17 scales round the middle of the body, 19 behind the 

 head. Ventrals only a little larger than the contiguous scales, 

 148-162; subcaudals 4-7. Caudal disk one half or three fifths 

 the length of the shielded part of tho head ; some of the distal 

 caudal scales with faint traces of keels. Dark brown ; sides with 

 vertical yellow spots or a festooned or zigzag band along the 

 anterior half of the body ; a yellow ring round the base of the tail. 



Total length 15 inches. 



Hob. Ceylon (Central Provinces). 



Genus SILYBURA, 

 Gray, Cat. Liz. p. 142, 1845. 



Eye in the ocular shield. No mental groove. No supraocular ; 

 no temporal. Tail conical or obliquely truncated, terminating in a 



Fig. 81. Silybura brevis. 

 Upper view of tail, and upper and side views of head. 



small scute which is square at the end or bicuspid, with the points 

 side by side. 



Distribution. Peninsular India ; one species in Ceylon. 



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