ABLABES SAGITTARIUS. 227 



Ablabes olivaceus. 



Ablates olivaceus, Beddome, Madr. Quart. Journ. Med. Sc. vol. v. 



Scales in seventeen rows, short, rounded, without apical groove. Rostral shield large, 

 convex, nearly twice as broad as high, rounded behind, just reaching the upper surface of 

 the head ; anterior frontals small, not quite half as large as posterior, broader than long ; 

 posterior frontals twice as broad as long, bent dovmwards on the sides ; vertical six-sided, 

 nearly as broad as long, with an obtuse angle in front and with an acute one behind, and 

 with the supraciliary margins very short. Supraciliary small ; occipitals as long as the 

 vertical and frontals together, rounded and not notched behind, touching the upper post- 

 ocular only. Nostril small, in a shield which is divided into two by a suture below, but not 

 above, the nostril. Loreal longer than high. Eye small ; two small prseoculars, two post- 

 oculars ; five upper labials : the third forms the lower edge of the orbit ; the fourth is the 

 smallest, and the fifth the largest, much longer than high. Temporals 1 + 1+2. Two pairs 

 of chin-shields, subequal in size, the posterior separated by two intercalated scales. Ventrals 

 224 ; anal bifid ; subcaudals 75. Teeth small, equal in length, five in each maxillary. Dark 

 greenish olive, paler below ; a series of distant, small black dots along each side of the back, 

 and another, less distinct, along the middle of the side. 



This species was discovered by Captain R. H. Beddome in the Nilgherries (Manantoddy) ; 

 the specimen sent by him is 20| inches long, the tail measuring 4 inches. 



Ablabes Sagittarius. 



Calamaria sagittaria, Cantor, Proc. Zool, Soc. 1839, p. 49 ; and Mai. Rept. p. 64. 

 Enicognathus grayi, Jan, Arch, per la Zool. ii. p. 274. 



Scales in seventeen rows; one preeocular. The occipital extends laterally to the lower 

 postocular ; temporals 1 + 1, the anterior being in contact with the lower postocular only. 

 Upper labials seven, the third and fourth of which enter the orbit ; the second sometimes 

 split into two. Two pairs of longish chin-shields, equal in size, the anterior pair in contact 

 with four labials. Ventrals 216-245 ; subcaudals 57-70. Reddish or greyish olive, dark on 

 the sides, the lighter coloration of the back being separated from the darker on the sides by 

 a blackish line ; a series of black dots along the vertebral line. Head brovra above ; a broad 

 black or dark-brown collar, edged with yellow. Belly white, each ventral with a black dot 

 on each side (during life the belly is of a citrine colour, with a blue lateral band and with 

 the dots). 



This species remains small; the longest specimen we have seen is 12 inches, the tail 

 being one-sixth. It is found at Pinang, and at Tirhoot (Bengal). An example collected by 

 Messrs. von Schlagintweit, at Kangra (Himalayas), differs only m having eight upper labials, 

 the second being split into two. Typical specimens of this species are preserved in the 

 British Museum and in the Museum of the University of Oxford. 



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