MELANOPHIDIUM. 193 



Plectrukus pereotetii. 



Plectrurus perrotetii, Dum. ^ Bibr. vii. p. 167. pi. 59. fig. 4. 



Snout obtusely conical ; rostral shield short, rounded, as long as a nasal ; vertical elongate, 

 produced behind, much longer than broad. Body with fifteen series of scales round its 

 middle; ventrals nearly t^vice as broad as the scales of the adjoining series, 161-162 in 

 number ; eight pairs of subcaudals. The circumference of the body is one-eleventh or one- 

 twelfth of the total length. Uniform brownish or blackish. 



This species is common in the Madras Presidency and in the Nilgherries ; it attams to the 

 length of 14 inches. It is found at an elevation of from 7000 to 8000 feet, and is frequently 

 dug up in gardens or taken from under turf and stones. 



Plectrurus guntheri. 



Plectnirus giintheri, Beddome, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, p. 228. pi. 27 (the ground-colour is too 

 dark in this figure, owing to the fault of the colourer). 



Head flat above, with obtuse snout ; rostral shield as high as broad, considerably shorter 

 than a nasal, with a right angle behind. Vertical elongate, produced behind, nearly twice 

 as long as broad. Body with seventeen series of scales round its foremost part, and with 

 fifteen round its middle. Ventrals nearly twice as broad as the scales of the adjoining series, 

 172-175 in number; twelve pairs of subcaudals. The circumference of the body is one- 

 twelfth or one-thirteenth of the total length. Beautiful purple above, each scale with a 

 lighter margin ; belly yellow, the yellow colour rising up on the sides in triangular mark- 

 ings, which are alternate with similar markings of the colour of the back, the purple spots 

 sometimes joining those of the other side by narrow stripes crossing the belly. 



This fine species was discovered by Captain R. H. Beddome in the moist forests at Walaghat, 

 on the western slopes of the Nilgherries (3500 feet) ; the specimen which he sent is 14 inches 

 Ions:. 



MELANOPHIDIUM, Gthr. 



Tail slightly compressed, covered with smooth scales, and terminating- in 

 a very small, smooth, horny point slightly turned upwards. Snout rather 

 obtuse ; nasal shields forming a suture together behind the rostral ; supra- 

 orbital and postocular confluent hito one shield. A median groove along 

 the chin. 



Only one species is known. 



2 c 



