TEOPIDONOTUS. 347 



431. Tropidonotus subminiatus. 



Tropidonotus subminiatus, Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii, p. 313 ; Giinth. 



Sept. B. I. p. 265 ; Anders. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 177 ; Stoliczka, J. A. 



S. . xl, 1871, pt. 2, p. 434, pi. xxvi, fig. 3 ; Theob. Cat. p. 177 ; 



Anders. An. Zool. Res. Yunnan, p. 822. 

 Amphiesma subminiatum, Dum. $ Bibr. Erp. Gen. vii, p. 734 ; Jan, 



Icon. Ophid. 29, pi. i, fig. 3. 



Eye rather large, its diameter a little exceeding its distance from 

 the nostril ; rostral just visible from above ; suture between the 

 internasals shorter than that between the prsefrontals ; frontal as 

 long as its distance from the end of snout or a little longer, shorter 

 than the parietals ; loreal as long as deep or deeper than long ; one 

 praeocular; three postoculars ; temporals 2 + 2 or 2 + 3; upper labials 

 8 normally, third, fourth, and fifth entering the eye-; 5 lower labials 

 in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are a little shorter 

 than the posterior. Scales in 19 rows, strongly keeled, those of the 

 outer row smooth. Ventrals 132-166; anal divided; subcaudals 

 68-87.' Brownish, greyish olive, or olive-green above, adult uniform 

 or with black and yellow reticulations; neck often tinged with 

 bright vermilion ; a dorso-lateral series of light spots may be 

 present ; a black oblique spot below the eye, on a white ground ; 

 young with a jet-black cross band on the nape, bordered with 

 yellow posteriorly ; belly yellowish ; frequently a black dot on the 

 outer end of each ventral shield. 



Total length 3| feet ; tail 10 inches. 



Hob. From Sikhim, Assam, Burma, and Southern China to the 

 Malay Peninsula and Java. This is a common species, chiefly 

 inhabiting hilly country, though rarely found above 3000 or 4000 

 feet. 



432. Tropidonotus himalayanus. 



Xenodon macrophthalmus, part., Giinth. Cat. Col. Sn. p. 58. 

 Tropidonotus macrophthalmus, part., Giinth. Sept. B. I. p. 202. 

 Tropidonotus himalayanus, Giinth. op. cit. p. 265, pi. xxii, fig. If ; 



Anders. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 178 ; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xl, 1871, pt. 2, 



p. 434 ; Theob. Cat. p. 178. 



Agrees very closely in structure and in colour with T. subminiatus, 

 from which it is distinguished by having two labials only (normally 

 fourth and fifth) entering the eye, and by the presence of a yellow 

 or orange collar separating the head from the black nuchal spot. 

 Sometimes a single anterior temporal, more frequently two. Ven- 

 trals 158-170 ; subcaudals 79-90. 



Total length 2 feet 9 inches ; tail 8 inches. 



Hob. Himalayas (Nepal and Sikhim) and Assam Hills. Dr. 

 Stoliczka observes that this species is not common in Sikhim and 

 that it is mostly confined to the lower valleys, rarely going up to or 

 above 5000 feet. 



