272 UEOPELTIIXE. 



324. Plectrurus aureus. 



Plectrurus aureus, Beddome, P. Z. S. 1880, p. 182 ; id. A. M. N. H, 

 (5) xvii, 1886, p. 26. 



Very closely allied to the preceding, the only structural difference 

 being found in the ventrals, which are a little broader, viz. twice 

 as broad as the contiguous, scales. Diameter of body 39-44 times 

 in the total length. Ventrals 164-177; subcaudals 8-12. Of a 

 brilliant golden colour, brighter beneath ; the scales edged with 

 violet, with or without a few irregular narrow violet-black cross- 

 bars on the back : the belly much ornamented with violet-black 

 cross-bands or alternating spots. 



Total length 16 inches. 



Hob. Chambra Hill, AVynaad, 4500-6000 feet. 



Genus MELANOPHIDIUM, 

 Gliiither, Kept. Brit. Ind. p. 193, 1864. 



Eye in the ocular shield. A median groove along the chin. 

 No supraocular; no temporal. Tail cylindrical or slightly com- 

 pressed, the terminal scute pointed or with one or two vertical 

 ridges. 



Distribution. Southern India. 



Synopsis of the tipecies. 



A. Leiigth of frontal equal to its distance from 



end of snout. 

 . Suture between ocular and frontal more than 



one third length of latter shield' M. uynadensc, p. 272. 



b. Suture between ocular and frontal less than 



one third length of latter shield M. imnctatmn, p. 273. 



13. Length of frontal exceeds its distance from end 

 of snout ; suture between ocular and frontal 

 less than one third length of latter shield . . M. bilineatum, p. '21 o. 



325. Melanophidium wynadense, 



I'lectrurus wynandensis, Beddome, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 228. 

 Melanophidium wynandense, Gunth. liept. B. 2. p. 194, pi. xvii, fig. I ; 

 Theob. Cat. p. 138; Beddome, A.M.N.H. (5) xvii, 1886, p. 30. 



Snout rounded ; rostral small, just visible from above ; frontal 

 as long as its distance from the end of the snout; suture between 

 the ocular and the frontal more than one third the length of the 

 latter shield. Eye very small. Diameter of body 44 to 48 times 

 in the total length. 15 scales round the middle of the body, 17 

 or 19 behind the head. Ventrals rather more than twice the 

 size of the contiguous scales, 176-185 ; subcaudals 10-15. Black, 

 beautifully iridescent, uniform or with large yellow spots on the 

 belly. 



Total length 18 inches. 



Hub. Near Manantoddy, Wynaad, 3000-5000 feet. 



