TROPIDONOTUS 



161 



prefrontals. Frontal a little broader than the supra- 

 ocular, once and a half to twice as long as broad, as 

 long as or a little shorter than its distance from the 

 end of the snout, shorter than the parietals, not in 

 contact with the preocular. Loreal as deep as or 

 deeper than long. Two (rarely one or three) pre- 

 oculars, with or without a small subocular below ; 

 three postoculars, often with one or two suboculars 

 below. Temporals i -f- 2. Upper labials eight (rarely 

 seven, nine, or 

 ten), fourth or 

 fourth and fifth 

 (rarely third or 

 fifth) entering 

 the eye. Five 

 (rarely four) 

 lower labials in 

 contact with the 

 anterior chin- 

 shields, which are shorter than the posterior. 



Scales with two apical pits, in nineteen rows, 

 strongly keeled, of outer row smooth or feebly keeled. 

 Ventrals 160 to 187; anal divided; subcaudals 

 48 to 79. 



Coloration. — Olive, olive-grey, or brown above, with 



dark spots usually arranged quincuncially or forming 



narrow bars on the back (Plate III.) ; sides often with 



lighter vertical bars ; a more or less distinct /y-shaped 



dark band on the nape, sometimes produced as a 

 11 



Fig. 17 



