268 OPHIDIA. 



Tropidonotus jujfCEUS. (Plate XXII. fig. F.) 



Tropidonotus junceus, Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 93. 



clipsas, Blyth, Jown. As. Soc. Beng. 1855, xxiii. p. 297, & sxiv. p. "16. 



Head narrow, rather depressed, distinct from neck ; body and tail slender ; eye rather 

 large. Scales in nineteen rows. Ventralsl54— 159 ; subcaudals 86. Anterior frontals trun- 

 cated in front, half as large as posterior ; occipitals considerably longer than vertical, rounded 

 behind. Loreal square ; one praeocular, extending on to the upper surface of the head ; 

 three narrow postoculars. Nine low upper labials, the fourth, fifth, and sixth entering the 

 orbit. Temporals arranged in two longitudinal series ; the upper series contains three small 

 shields adjoining the occipital, the lower two larger ones. Each maxillary is armed with a 

 continuous series of fifteen small teeth, and with a posterior longer and stronger tooth placed 

 at some distance behind the series. Greyish olive above, with a series of well-defined rounded 

 whitish spots along each side of the back ; belly whitish, a black dot on each side of each 

 ventral and subcaudal shield. Lips and throat gamboge ; a gamboge band ascends obliquely 

 from the angle of the mouth to the neck, joining its fellow at an acute angle; this band is 

 less distinct in adult specimens than in young ones. 



Since the publication of the ' Colubrine Snakes' in 1858, we have received the typical 

 specimen of T. junceus of Cantor, so that I have convinced myself that it is a valid species ; 

 it was captured on the Great Hill of Pinang, and is 27 inches long, the tail measuring 

 1\ inches. Another young specimen has been received from Chikiang. Dr. Cantor observes 

 that it is of fierce habits and very ready to bite. It is said to occur also in the vicinity of 

 Darjiling. 



The figures on Plate XXII. (upper and lateral views of the head) have been taken from the 

 typical specimen, and are of the natural size. 



Tkopidonotus ceylonensis. (Plate XXII. fig. G.) 



Tropidouotus chrysargus, var. ceylonensis, Giinth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 71. 



Head of moderate width and length, distinct from neck ; body and tail of moderate 

 length; eye rather large. Scales in nineteen rows, strongly keeled. Ventrals 137; sub- 

 caudals 60. Anterior fi'ontals obtusely rounded in front, half as large as posterior ; vertical 

 five-sided, with the lateral margins slightly convergent and with a right angle behind; 

 occipitals not much longer than vertical, obtusely rounded behind. Loreal quadrangular ; 

 two pra?oculars, of nearly equal size, the upper reaching to the upper surface of the head ; 

 three narrow postoculars ; eight low upper labials, the fourth and fifth of which enter the 

 orbit ; temporals 2 + 3, the lower anterior being the largest. Each maxillary is armed with 

 a continuous series of twenty small teeth, followed at some distance by a much larger pos- 

 terior tooth. Brownish olive above; a series of about twenty yellow ocelli, edged with black, 

 along each side of the body ; the black edges are dilated into cross bands extending down- 



