HYPSIRHINA CHINENSIS. 283 



cross bands on the sides, alternating with narrow yellow ones which either extend on to the 

 other side across the belly, or alternate witli the opposite bands. A series of large, rhombic 

 dark spots along the back. This specimen also was from Siam. 



Hypsirhina bennettii. 



3/. 



Hypsirhina bennettii, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 67 



maculata, Dum. ^ Bibr. Erpet. gen. vii. p. 950. 



Head rather narrow, not very distinct from the neck, which is slender ; body and tail of 

 moderate length. Scales polished, short, rhombic, in twenty-one series. Anterior frontal 

 very small, half as large as a posterior, not in contact with the loreal. Vertical five-sided, 

 elongate, pointed behind ; occipitals not much longer than vertical. Loreal quadrangular ; 

 one prse-, two post-oculars. Seven upper labials, the fourth entering the orbit. Temporals 

 1+24-3. Three pairs of chin-shields, the anterior being the largest and the middle the 

 smallest ; the shields of the two hinder pairs do not touch each other in the median line. 

 Ventrals 158-161 ; sub caudals 47-51. Each maxillary is armed with from twelve to thirteen 

 teeth, the last being somewhat stronger and grooved. Brownish grey above, with numerous 

 irregular transverse black spots ; the three outer series of scales and the belly are whitish ; 

 each ventral shield y, ith three black dots, one on each side and one in the middle, and with 

 anterior blackish margin. 



This species appears to be peculiar to China, and attains to a length of 21 inches, the tail 

 measuring 3f inches. 



Hypsirhina chinensis. 



Hypsirhina chinensis, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 73. 



Head of moderate width and length ; neck more or less slender ; body rather stout, its 

 hinder part and the tail compressed. Scales in twenty-three rows, without apical groove ; 

 ventrals 150 ; subcaudals 44-45. Anterior frontal sometimes square, sometimes broader 

 than long, as large as one of the posterior frontals ; vertical twice, or more than twice, as 

 long as broad. Seven upper labials, the fourth entering the orbit. Temporals not much 

 larger than the scales, 3+2 + 3. Blackish ash above, with irregular series of small black 

 spots; the second and third outer series of scales white, the outermost blackish; belly 

 whitish, clouded with blackish on the anterior and outer margrins of each ventral shield. 



'O"^ 



The larger of our specimens is 16| inches long, the tail measuring 2^ inches; they are 

 from China. 



2o2 



