ABLABES RAPPII. 225 



Ablabes fuscus. 



Calamaria fusca, Bhjth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxiii. 1854, p. 288. 



? Calamaria obsciiro-striata, Blyth, I. c. 



Trachischium rugosura, Giinth. Colubr. Snakes, pp. 30, 245. 



fiiscum, Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1860, p. 161. 



? obscuro-striatum, Giinth. I. c. 



Scales in thirteen rows, without apical groove. Posterior frontals united into one shield* ; 

 loreal much longer than high ; one prceocular, not reaching to the upper surface of the head ; 

 one postocular. Six upper labials, the third and fourth of which enter the orbit, the last 

 the largest. Temporals 1+2. Two pairs of chin-shields, the posterior much smaller than 

 the anterior, which are in contact with four labials. The scales are smooth ; but in the male 

 sex those on the side of the vent and of the root of the tail are keeled, the keels being more 

 or less tubercular : in the females these scales are smooth. Ajial bifid. Ventrals : male, 154 ; 

 female, 161. Subcaudals: male, 42 ; female, 34. Uniform black above, whitish below. 



This is a Himalayan species, being found in Nepal and Sikkim, and reaching an altitude 

 of 8500 feet. It remains small, the largest specimen which came under my observation 

 being 19 inches long, the tail measuring 2\ inches. 



In the collection of Messrs. von Schlagintweit there is a single specimen, from Sikkim, 

 12 inches long, which agrees in some respects with Calamaria ohscurostriata of Blyth, so 

 far as we are able to judge from the short diagnosis given by that gentleman. It is dusky 

 brown, with a pair of very indistinct light bands occupying the joining portions of the 

 fourth and fifth rows of scales; but whilst Blyth states 163 ventrals and 40 subcaudals, I 

 count in the Sikkim specimen 142 ventrals and 29 subcaudals. This circumstance, together 

 with the difference of locality (Blyth's specimen being from Eangoon), makes it very doubtful 

 whether they are identical. 



I must even hesitate to identify it with Trachischium fuscum ; for, in a doubtful case like 

 the present, one is hardly justified in deciding from a single specimen. 



Ablabes rappii. 



Ablabes rappii, Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1860, p. 154. pi. 26. fig. B (adult), 

 owenii, Giinth. I. c. p. 155. pi. 36. fig. A (young). 



Scales in fifteen rows, without apical groove. Loreal square ; one prseocular, just reaching 

 to the upper surface of the head ; two postoculars. The occipital does not extend downwards 

 to the lower postocular; temporals 1+2 : the anterior in contact with both oculars; the 

 lower posterior temporal fits into the notch between the upper posterior temporal and the 

 last labial. Upper labials six, the third and fourth of which enter the orbit. Two pairs of 

 oblong chin-shields, subequal in size, the anterior m contact with four labials. Ventrals 



* One specimen out of twelve had two posterior frontals. 



2g 



