SNAKES FROM THE KHASI HILLS, ASSAM. 327 



Coluber radiatus. 

 One specimen, a $, 4 feet 5 inches long, the tail 10^ inches. 

 Ventrals, 237. Subcaudals, 93. Peculiar in having a single post- 

 ocular on both sides. The scales in this species are 19 anteriorly, 

 19 in midbody, and 17 posteriorly. The reduction from 19 to 17 is 

 caused by the coalescence of the 4th and 5th rows above the ventrals. 

 It had eaten a mouse. 



Oligodoii dorsalis. 



One specimen, a 9, 1 foot 2| inches in length (the tail 1^ inches). 

 Accords in all particulars with Boulenger's description of this species 

 (Catalogue, Vol. II., p. 241), except in the number of the subcaudals. 

 Though the difference in the number of these shields in my speci- 

 men, viz., 28, and the number given in Boulenger's description, viz., 

 37 to 51, is considerable, and the importance attaching to these 

 shields in this genus is great, I do not feel justified in claiming for my 

 specimen specific identity on this solitary ground.* The ventrals are 

 185. 



Prior to this I had found another example of this species in a 

 verv mutilated condition on the Ghat road, which I was unable to 

 identify. The few scale characters that could be made out with 

 certainty exactly accorded with my second specimen, including the 

 colour and markings, which are very distinctive. It was a 9 , and 

 egg-bound, two eggs, which from their size must have been nearly 

 manured were extruded from the belly. The specimen was about the 

 same length as the second one to which I have alluded first. The 

 subcaudals were 29. 



The scales in my perfect specimen were 15 anteriorly, 15 in mid- 

 body, and 13 posteriorly. The reduction from 15 to 13 was occa- 

 sioned by a confluence of the 3rd and 4th rows above the ventrals. 

 This arrangement of scales is typical of most of the genus Simotes. At 

 least I have hitherto found it so, but I have not had access to every 

 species known. On the other hand, I have previously found that the 

 species belonging to the very closely allied genus Oligodon, with one 

 exception known to me, viz., venustus, preserve the same number of 



* Since writing this I have received a specimen through Mr. Millard from Manel 

 Katha, Upper Burma. It is a $, the ventrals are 166, and the subcaudals 46, and it is 

 perfectly clear to me now that the low numbers of subcaudals in my Khasi specimens are 

 of sexual import only. 



