278 OPHIDIA. 



present ; one prse-, one post-, and two sub-oculars. Five (or six ?)* upper labials. The single 

 anterior temporal is large and elongate, the posterior are scale-like. Scales smooth, in nine- 

 teen series. Ventrals narrow, not keeled, 278 in number, the last two di\'ided; anal bifid; 

 subcaudals 64. Reddi.sh violet above, with transverse bands of small whitish dots, indistinct 

 towards the tail. Uniform whitish below ; lower part of the tail marbled with brown. 



The typical specimen was obtained in the neighbourhood of Singapore ; it is 50 inches long, 

 the tail measuring 6 inches. The supposition that it is identical with Coronella violacea of 

 Cantor is utterly groundless, the latter species being a Simotes and having its ventral shields 

 nearly a hundred less in number. 



CERBERUS, Ciivier. 



Head rather lils^h, of moderate length and width ; body cylindrical, its 

 hinder part and the tail rather com])ressed. Cleft of the mouth wide, turned 

 upwards behind. Eye small, with vertical pupil. Snout covered with shields, 

 occiput with scales. Nostril situated on the upper side of the head between 

 two nasals, the anterior of which is the larger, forming a suture with the 

 corresponding nasal of the other side ; two small triangular anterior frontals ; 

 eye surrounded by a ring of small ori)itals, the superciliary being well deve- 

 loped ; posterior upper labials divided transversely into two. Scales keeled, 

 in from twenty-one to twenty-five rows ; ventrals of moderate width ; anal 

 bifid ; subcaudals two-rowed. Maxillary teeth in a continuous series, slightly 

 increasing in length posteriorly, the last being grooved. Mandibulary 

 teeth longest in front, decreasing in strength and more closely set behind. 

 Viviparous. 



This genus extends through the whole of India, from Ceylon to the north coast of Australia. 

 Only one species occurs in British India. 



* One of the figures quoted represents five upper labials, — another, more than five : both are taken 

 from the same individual. 



