390 OPHIDIA. 



Teimeeesukus teigonocepiialus. 



Cophias trigonocephalusj Merr. Tent. p. 156. 



nigro-marginatus, Kuhl, Beitr. p, 20. 



Trigonocephalus nigromarginatus, Schley. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 541. pi. 19. figs. 14 & 15. 

 Megsera trigonocephala. Way I. Syst. Amph. p. 174. Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 49. 

 olivacea. Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 49. 



The second upper labial shield forms the front part of the facial pit ; upper part of the 

 snout with two pairs of shields in front, those of the middle pan* square, twice as large as the 

 outer ones. Supraciliary transversely divided into two. Scales in from seventeen to nineteen 

 rows, those of the back slightly keeled, the others smooth. Ventrals 147-152; subcaudals 

 57-63. The anal shield is entire, but the ventral before it is deeply notched or divided into 

 two. Green, with a network of black stripes on the head, one of which runs from the eye 

 to the hinder end of the mandible ; a black band along the middle of the back, emitting 

 black streaks on each side, the streaks of both sides alternating with each other. The black 

 has a narrow yellow border, and the transverse streaks generally enclose a rounded yellowish 

 spot. Scales on the sides slightly tinged with yellow; ventral shields pale green, with a 

 broad posterior yellow margin ; subcaudals marbled with blackish, and end of the tail black. 



A variety has no reticulated stripes on the upper surface of the head, the scales merely 

 being edged with black ; temporal streak very broad ; the dorsal band commences in the 

 middle of the length of the animal, and is interrupted. 



This snake is peculiar to Ceylon, and not very common ; it is a Tree-snake with a strongly 

 prehensile tail, and attains to a length of 31 inches, the tail measuring 5 inches; in the 

 stomach I have found tree-frogs and mice. 



Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus. 



Trigonocephalus mucrosquamatus, Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. 3.2. 



" Brownish grey above, vrith black, white-edged rings, covered with oval, half-keeled, pointed, imbricate 

 scales; whitish beneath, dotted with black. Ventrals 218; subcaudals 91. Naga Hills, Assam." 



This species has not been recognized by later herpetologists, and I am unable to add further information, 

 as unfortunately the typical specimen is lost. Only the di'awing from it made by Cantor is preserved in 

 the library of the Oxford Museum, and although it is evident that the species belongs to this genus, the 

 lateral shields of the head are not distinct enough to admit of a description. 



PELTOPELOR, Gfhr. 



A large pit in the loreal region. Head covered with large, shield-like, 

 inihricate scales ; body with twelve series of very large keeled scales. Body 

 and tail of moderate length, prehensile. Subcaudals two-rowed. 



Only one species is known. 



