LEPTORHYTAON JARA. 321 



Tetragonosoma atropuepureum. 



Lycodon atropurpureus. Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. 50. 



The typical specimen, with a drawing, was deposited by Dr. Cantor in the Radcliife Library, 

 Oxford ; the former has been lost ; and as the species has not been rediscovered hitherto, we 

 can add but little infonnation from an examination of the figure. 



Cantor's diagnosis is limited to the foUomng words : — " Deep purple, marbled Avith white 

 and black; beneath pearl-coloured. Ventrals 257 ; subcaudals 91." 



The loreal shield is absent, so that the frontals come into contact with the labials. One 

 prse- and two post-oculars. Occipitals very long and tapering ; upper labials nine, the fourth 

 and fifth (and perhaps the third) entering the orbit. Cantor has also figured the dentition, 

 which perfectly agrees with that indicated in the diagnosis of this genus. 



Mergui. 



LEPTORHYTAON, Gf/u: 



Body of moderate length, rounded, not compressed ; tail short ; head 

 depressed, of moderate length, with rounded snout, distinct from neck. 

 Ventrals less than 200, not bent on the sides. One nasal shield, pierced by 

 the nostril ; loreal elongate, pointed behind, but scarcely coming into the 

 orbit. One praeocular, situated above the loreal ; two postoculars. Scales 

 smooth, with a minute apical groove, in seventeen series. Subcaudals two- 

 rowed. Pupil elliptical, erect. Maxillary with a fang in front of the mouth, 

 a toothless space behind it ; a series of small teeth on the side, the last 

 being stronger than the others. Palatine teeth not enlarged. Mandible 

 with one or two fangs in front. 



Only one species is known. 



LEPTORHYTAON JARA. 



Jara-potoo, Russell, Lid. Serp. i. pi. 14. 

 Cohiber jara, Shaw, Zool. iii. p. 525. 



bipunctatus, Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. 52. 



LycodoQ jara, Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 110. 

 Leptorhytaoii jara, Giinth. Cohibr. Snakes, p. 205. 



Rostral shield rather broader than high ; anterior frontals small, pentagonal, one-third the 



2t 



