NOTES ON SNAKES COLLECTED IN FYZABAD. 115 



examples. My records, I regret to say, are rather meagre, but this 

 tendency is marked, as will be seen from the following : — 



Fyzabad. 

 8 $ Ventrals ... 192 to 207. Subcaudals 100 to 12b" 

 8 9 „ ... 191 to 206 „ 108 to 115 



Can nan ore. 

 1 $ Ventrals .. 197 to 202. Subcaudals 127 to 137 

 3 9 „ ... 192 to 196 „ 128 to 132 



In Burma the subcaudals of 10 specimens in which the sexes are 

 not recorded, were 102 to 119. A single specimen in Kashmir had 

 104, one in the Swat Valley 117. All these specimens (the only 

 records available) conform to the Fyzabad range. 



A specimen from Hakgalla in Ceylon had 134, and one in Trichino- 

 poly 127 ; and these agree with the range given by the Cannanore 

 examples. 



Zamenis fasciolatus. 

 I obtained but a single small specimen of this uncommon snake in 

 the month of July. It was alive, and probably a hatchling. It 

 measured 11^ inches, of which the tail accounted for 1\ inches. 



It was a very beautiful little creature showing much spirit and 

 pluck. On irritation it erected itself and flattened the body after the 

 manner of Tropidonotus piscalor, and stolatus, which I thought peculiar 

 in a species of this genus. The ventrals and subcaudals were 199 + 82 

 (the 2nd subcaudal entire). 20 ventrals were placed between the navel 

 and the anal shield. The scales two heads lengths behind the head 

 were 21, at mid body 23, and two heads lengths before the vent 17. 



Simotes amensis. 

 I obtained 16 examples. Of those sexed 8 were males, 7 females. 

 One brought alive struck out at me repeatedly with open jaws, but in 

 a very half-hearted way, for it never inflicted a bite. It flattened itself 

 to the ground, and in this effort the quadrate bone must have been 

 brought strongly into action ; for the neck, which at other times is not 

 apparent, became prominently so by the broadening of the hind 

 part of the head. 



Another live one I played with, and tried to get to strike, but it 

 objected to facing my hand, or my handkerchief, and refused to 

 menace. When 'I drummed my fingers on the floor in front it 

 turned and endeavoured to escape. It inflated its body in a peculiar 



