192 OPHIDIA. 



ventral shields 139, nearly twice as broad as the scales of the adjoining series; nine pairs of 

 subcaudals. The circumference of the thickest part of the body is one-tenth of the total 

 length. Black : numerous irregularly disposed scales are white ; an irregular white band 

 from the angle of the mouth along each side of the front part of the trunk ; a yellowish 

 band along each side of the tail, not joined over the vent. 



I have examined the single specimen to which Captain Beddome has assigned the name 

 of its discoverer; it was found in the Shevaray Hills, at an elevation of 4500 feet; it is 

 8 inches long. 



We have given two views of the head, of its natural size, taken from the same (typical) speci- 

 men as that which served for the drawings in the ' Proceedings ' of the Zoological Society. 



SiLYBUKA BREVIS. (Plate XVII. fig. D.) 



Silybura breads, Gilnth. Ann. ^ Mag. Nat. Hist. 1862, January, p. 56. 



Snout obtuse ; rostral shield rounded, shorter than the vertical. Caudal disk well defined, 

 flat, nearly as long as the tail ; each scale of the disk with two strong keels. Scales of the 

 middle of the body in seventeen rows ; ventral shields 122 ; nine pairs of subcaudals. The 

 circumference of the thickest part of the body is contamed six times and a half in the total 

 length. Brown above; the lower part of the sides and the belly yellowish, densely marbled 

 with brown ; sides of the throat yellowish, immaculate ; the lower part of the tail black, 

 with a broad white band on each side. 



The single specimen I have seen is 6^ inches long, and apparently young. It was brought 

 by Captain R. H. Beddome from the Anamallay Hills ; he informs me that he has lately 

 found a second example in the Nilgherries, which is rather smaller than the one described. 

 We have given an entire figure of the typical specimen, and two views of the head. 



PLECTRURUS. 



Plectrurus, Dum. ^ Bibr. 



Maudia, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1858, p. 261. 



Posterior part of the tail compressed, covered with obtusely keeled scales, 

 and terminating in a horny bicuspid scale, the two points being ])laced one 

 above the other. Head conical ; the nasals form a suture together behind 

 the rostral ; supraorbital and postocular distinct. 



Peninsula of India. 



Uniform brown P- jierrofetii. 



Purple, with triangular yellow lateral spots P. yiintheri. 



