322 OPHIDIA. 



size of posterior, as long as broad; posterior frontals pentagonal, of moderate size, as long as 

 broad; vertical and occipitals of moderate size, the latter rounded and not notched behind. 

 The single prseocular reaches just to the upper surface of the head. Nine upper labials, the 

 third, fourth, and fifth of which enter the orbit ; the four posterior are higher than long. 

 Temporals small, scale-like, rather irregularly arranged, one being in contact with the post- 

 oculars. Ventrals 167-175 ; anal bifid; subcaudals 66-63. Brown above, each scale with 

 two white dots ; generally a white collar ; lower parts uniform white. 



Russell received liis specimen from Ganjam ; ours is from the Anamallay Mountains ; 

 according to Cantor it occurs also in Bengal and Assam. Our largest specimen is 16^ inches 

 long, tail 2-j inches. 



OPHITES, TFagler. 



Body and tail rather slender, compressed, with an angidar ridge along each 

 side of the belly and tail. Head depressed, with flat, obtuse snout, distinct 

 from neck. A^entrals about 200 or more, angularly bent on each side. 

 Nostril between two shields. Shields of the head regular : in one species 

 prseocular absent. Scales keeled, in seventeen rows. Subcaudals two- 

 rowed. Pupil elliptical, erect. Maxillary with one of the anterior teeth 

 (third or fourth) enlarged, there being a short toothless space behind it ; 

 last maxillary tooth and palatine teeth not enlarged ; mandible with a fang 

 in front. 



Two species are known : — 



Loreal entering the orbit ; prseocular absent 0. subcinctus. 



A praeocular between loreal and orbit O. albofuKcus. 



Ophites subcinctus. 



Russell, Ind. Serp. ii. pi. 41. 



Coluber platurinus, Shaw, Zool. iii. p. 468*. 



Lycodon subcinctus, Bole, Isis, 1827, p. 551. Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 117. pi. 4. figs. 14&15. 



platurinus, Cantor, Mai. Rep(. p. 69. 



Ophites subcinctus, f faff I. Si/st. Ainph. p. 186. 



Scales in seventeen rows, those on the back slightly keeled. Ventrals 198-221 ; anal 



* As it was impossible to recognize this species from Shaw's description, the name proposed by him 

 has no claim to priority. 



