TROPIDONOTUS MACROPS. 263 



I thought for some time that Tropidonottis macrops, Blyth (Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxiii. 

 1855, p. 29G), might be identical with the above species; but, on further consideration, this 

 does not appear to be probable, on account of the great difference in the number of sub- 

 caudal shields. 



We have given an entire figure of this species, of the natural size. 



Tkopidonotus doesalis. 



Xenodon macrophtlialmus, spec, f, G'dnth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 58. 



Head, trunk, and tail of moderate length; eye large. Scales in seventeen rows, much 

 imbricate, those on the neck and anterior part of the trunk disposed in very oblique rows. 

 Ventrals 143; subcaudals 52. Anterior frontals obtusely rounded in front, more than half 

 as large as posterior. Vertical five-sided, with the lateral margins longest and convergent, 

 and with an obtuse hinder angle. Occipitals not twice as large as vertical. One praeocular, 

 just reaching to the upper surface of the crown ; three postoculars (two of which are confluent 

 into one on one side of the specimen). Loreal subtriangular, higher than long ; eight upper 

 labials, the fourth and fifth entering the orbit, the seventh the largest. Temporals rather 

 irregular, two being in contact with the postoculars. Two pau's of chin-shields, the posterior 

 of which are divergent behind, and rather longer than the anterior, which are in contact 

 with four labials. Each maxillary is armed with twenty small teeth, the last being much 

 larger than the preceding, from which it is scarcely separated by an interspace. Brownish 

 grey, with a vertebral series of about twenty-five rhombic reddish spots, each occupying 

 about four scales ; the spots are confluent posteriorly, and continued on the tail as a reddish, 

 black-edged band. An ill-defined blackish band runs along the edge of the ventral shields. 

 Belly with subquadi'angular blackish spots anteriorly, and punctulated with brown posteriorly ; 

 an indistinct arrow-shaped blotch on the crown of the head, separated by a reddish streak 

 from a black band running from the eye to the angle of the mouth. Upper labials with a 

 narrow black hinder edge. 



This species is very closely allied to T. macrophtlialmus ; its neck appears to be less dilatable, 

 although it has a similar arrangement of the scales. The only specimen I have seen is from 

 Chikiang ; it is 24i inches long, the tail measuring 4|- inches. 



Not having seen the following species, I can only say that probably it has the same den- 

 tition as T. macrophthalmits and dorsalis, to which it appears to be closely allied. 



Tkopidonotus mackops. 



Tropidonotus macrops, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1855, xxiii. p. 296. 

 Eye very large; posterior frontals twice as large as anterior. Scales in seventeen rows. 



