290 COLUBBLDS;. 



344. Aspidura guentheri. 

 Aspidura guentheri, Ferguson, P. Z. S. 1876, p. 819. 



liostral small, deeper than broad, not visible from above ; 

 frontal as long as or slightly longer than its distance from the end 

 of the snout, two thirds the length of the parietals ; supraocular 

 about half the length of the frontal ; praefrontals in contact with 

 the second and third upper labials, entering the eye : a prseocular ; 

 two postoculars, only the upper in contact with the parietal ; 

 temporals 1 + 2 ; 6 upper labials, first and second very small, sixth 

 largest, fourth entering the eye ; 4 lower labials in contact with 

 the anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin-shields small and scale- 

 like. Scales in 17 rows, all perfectly smooth. Ventrals 101-117 ; 

 anal entire ; subcaudals 19-27. Dark brown above and below, 

 back with four longitudinal series of blackish dots; head paler 

 above ; a yellow nuchal collar, interrupted in the middle and 

 bordered with blackish posteriorly. 



Total length 6 inches ; tail 0'75. 



Hab. Ceylon (near the coast). 



345. Aspidura trachyprocta. 



Aspidura trachvprocta, Cope, Proc. Ac. Philad. 1860, p. 75 ; Gilnth. 



Rcpt. E. 1. p. 203, pi. xviii, fig. F ; Theob. Cat. p. 143. 

 Aspidura scytale, part., Jan, Icon. Ophid. 13, pi. ii, figs. 1 & 3. 



Kostral small, deeper than broad, not visible from above ; frontal 

 longer than its distance from the end of the snout, about two 

 thirds the length of the parietals ; supraoculars more than half 

 the length of the frontal ; praefrontals in contact with the eye and 

 with the second and third upper labials, separated from the fourth 

 by a small prseocular ; two postoculars, lower largest, both in 

 contact with the parietal; temporals 1 + 2; 6 upper labials, first 

 and second very small, sixth largest, fourth entering the eye ; 4 

 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields ; posterior 

 chin-shields small and scale-like. Scales in 15 rows, tubercularly 

 keeled on the anal and caudal regions. Ventrals 120-147 ; anal 

 entire ; subcaudals 13-25. Brown or blackish above, with longi- 

 tudinal series of small darker spots and a dark lateral streak, 

 which are more distinct'in the young ; lower surface blackish, or 

 yellowish spotted with black. 



Total length 15 inches; tail 1. 



Hob. Ceylon (in the mountains). 



Genus HAPLOCERCUS, 

 Giiuther, Cat. Col. Sn. p. 14, 1858. 



Maxillary teeth about 10, moderately large, subequal ; posterior 

 mandibular teeth a little shorter than the anterior. Head not 

 distinct from neck ; eye rather small, with round pupil ; nostril 

 between two small nasals and the first labial ; no loreal ; a single 



