A POPULAR TREATISE ON INDIAN SNAKES. 17 



Karnal. Murray says it is not common in Upper Sind, and Blanford 

 makes a similar observation of South-Eastern Berar. Mr. Miller 

 tells me that about Darjeeling he has only known one specimen in 

 many years' residence, viz., from Kurseong (4,600 feet). 



Description. — Head covered with small keeled scales similar to those 

 on the back. Rostral. — As high or nearly as high as broad ; in 

 contact with 6 shields, of which the nasals make much the longest 

 sutures. Supraoculars well developed, not divided. JSasals. — In 

 contact with the rostral and the 1st supralabial. These are com- 

 plicated in structure, consisting of a single shield pierced by a large 

 unusually patent nostril. A vertical pillar-shaped portion demarcates 

 this orifice anteriorly. This pillar bifurcates above to receive the 

 anterior extremity of a crescentic scale. Two fissures demarcate the 

 nostril, one above and the other below, but neither extend to the 

 margin of the shield. Supralabials 10 to 12, the 4th largest; separated 

 from the eye by 2 or 3 series of subocular scales. Sublinguals. — One 

 pair only, touching 4 or 5 infralabials. Infralabials 5. The 5th largest, 

 and in contact with 2 scales behind. Scales. — Two heads lengths 

 behind the head usually 25 or 27 ; midbody 29 to 31 (rarely 33) ; 

 two heads lengths before vent usually 21 to 23. Keels present on all 

 the head-scales, and all rows of body scales even to the tip of the tail. 

 In the last costal row they are oblique and less pronounced than in 

 other rows. Ventrals. — 153 to 176, very broad, rounded, not ridged. 

 Anal entire. Subcaudals 41 to 64, all divided. 



Our plate is in every particular excellent, and is the work of 

 Mr. Gerhard t. 



(To be continued.) 



