308 OPHIDIA. 



The species of this genus are very numerous, and found in each of the tropical regions. 

 The following occur in British India : — 



* The anterior palatine and mandibulars/ teeth are enlarged — considerably larger than the other teeth : 

 EuDiPSAS, Fitz. 



Scales in twenty-three series D. cynodon, p. 308. 



Scales in twenty-five or twenty-seven series D. forsteni, p. 309. 



** Palatine teeth not enlarged; scales moderately imbricate, in not very oblique series: thoroughly 

 arboreal and chiefly feeding on birds : Dipsas, Gtlir. 



Body covered with brown and black dots and spots ; eye very large . . . D. boops, p. 309. 



Black with yellow cross bands D. dendrophila, p. 310. 



Uniform greenish above D. bubalina, p. 311. 



A series of round brown spots along each side of the back D. multimaculata, p. 311. 



*** Anterior palatine and mandibulary teeth but little enlarged; scales much imbricate, in vei'y oblique 



series : living partly on the ground and feeding on small mammals: Dipsadomorphus, Fitz. 

 Scales in twenty-one rows ; vertebral scales somewhat larger than the others ; 



belly immaculate along the middle D. trigonata, p. 312. 



Scales in twenty-one rows; vertebral scales somewhat larger than the others; 



belly checkered with black D. multifasciata, p. 313. 



Scales in twenty-one rows; vertebral scales subquadrangular, much larger 



than the others D. gokool, p. 313. 



Scales in nineteen rows D. ceylonensis, p. 314. 



Dipsas cynodon. 



Dipsas cynodon, Cuv, Regne Anitn. Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 268. pi. 11. figs. 10 & 11. Cantor, 



Mai. Repf. p. 77 (the adult specimen) . 

 Eudipsas cynodon, {Fitz.) GUnth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 168. 

 Pareas waandersii, Bleek, Nat. Tydschr. Nederl. Ind. 1860, xx. p. 470. 



Scales in twenty-three series, smooth, without apical groove, those of the vertebral series 

 large, hexagonal. Ventrals 275-287; anal entire; subcaudals 141-162. The rostral shield 

 has a deep impression in front, and is nearly as high as broad. Nostril a wide oblique slit. 

 Loreal irregularly quadrangular, longer than high. One prseocular, extendmg on to the upper 

 side of the head, but not reaching the vertical. Two postoculars. Normally nine upper labials, 

 the fourth, fifth, and sixth of which enter the orbit ; sometimes one of the anterior labials is 

 split into two, or two are united. The temporals vary in size and number ; there are always 

 two in contact with the postoculars. Two pairs of very broad chin-shields, the posterior bemg 

 nearly twice as large as the anterior. The eight anterior lower labials are very narrow. 

 Each maxillary is armed with about twelve slender teeth subequal in size, the last being 

 grooved; three or four strong teeth on each palatine bone, the anterior being very long; 

 eight small teeth occupy the anterior half of the pterygoid. Each mandible with about 

 fourteen teeth, the first two very long. A black streak runs from the eye to the angle of 

 the mouth ; tail black, with irregular narrow white rings. 



We have examined two very distinct varieties of coloration : — 



Var. a. Blackish brown, dotted all over with black ; indistinct rhombic black bands across 



