228 . OPHIDIA. 



Ablabes humberti. 



Calamaria sagittaria, Jerdon, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxii. 1853, p. 528 (not Cantor). 

 Enicogiiathus humbertij Jan, Arch, per la Zool. ii. p. 275. 



Scales in seventeen rows ; one prseocular ; two postoculars. The occipital extends laterally 

 to the lower postocular; temporals 1+2, the anterior in contact with the lower postocular 

 only. Upper labials ten, the fourth, fifth, and sixth of which enter the orbit ; the seventh 

 and ninth are contiguous below, excluding the eighth from the labial margin, so that the 

 latter, situated below the anterior temporal, might be taken for a temporal shield. Two 

 pairs of elongate chin-shields, equal in size, the anterior pair in contact with four labials. 

 Ventrals 175 ; subcaudals 55-57. Reddish olive, darker on the sides, the lighter back being 

 separated from the dark-coloured side by an indistinct punctated line. A series of black 

 dots edged with yellow runs along the vertebral Une. Upper part of the head brown ; a 

 broad black or dark-brown collar, edged vpith yellow. Belly white, each ventral shield with 

 a black dot on each side. 



This species is found in the Madras Presidency and in Ceylon. Our largest specimen is 

 17^ inches long, the tail measuring 4 inches. 



Ablabes collaris. 



Psammophis collaris, Gray, Ann. ^ Mag. Nat. Hist. 1853, p. 390. 

 Ablabes collaris, Giinfh. Colubr. Snakes, p. 28. 



Scales in seventeen rows. Loreal rather longer than high ; one prseocular, just reaching 

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

 wards to the lower postocular ; one temporal in front, in contact with both postoculars ; a 

 second elongate temporal behind the first, contiguous to the occipital; two smaller tem- 

 porals, one behind the other, occupy the space between the second temporal and the 

 posterior labial shields. Upper labials ten, the fourth, fifth, and sixth entering the orbit, 

 the eighth and tenth being the largest. Two pairs of elongate chin-shields, subequal in 

 size, the anterior in contact with four labials. Ventrals 177; anal bifid; subcaudals 102. 

 Teeth small, closely set, of equal size, 28 in each maxillary and 46 in each mandible*. 

 Greyish brown above, with a vertebral series of equidistant black dots on the anterior part 

 of the trunk. Neck with a broad black collar, edged with yellow behind, the yellow edge 

 being produced forwards to the eye; head brown above; labials brown-spotted. Lower 

 parts white ; each ventral with a black speck on each side ; anterior ventrals with another 

 pair of similar dots in the middle. 



This species is found in Khasya and Nepal, and attains to a length of 32 inches, the tail 

 measuring 10 inches. 



* The notch of the dentary is IdcIow the nineteenth tooth. 



