196 OPHIDIA. 



The following species occur on the continent of India : — 



* Upper labials foiu' ; the first pair of lower labials form a suture together. 



Ventral shields bicoloured, 179-190 C. siamensis, p. 196. 



Ventral shields uniform whitish, 136-145 C. quadrimaculata, p. 197. 



** Upper laljials five ; the first pair of lower labials are separate from each 

 other. 



Brown, with fom* vermilion (white) streaks C, albiventer, p. 197. 



*** Upper labials five ; the first pair of lower labials form a suture together. 



Head light brownish ; vertical shield as broad as long C. nigro-alba, p. 198. 



Head white ; vertical shield broader than long C. leucocephala, p. 198. 



Some other species of Calamaria appear to have been discovered on the Indian continent, 

 but unfortunately they have not been sufficiently well characterized to enable us to admit 

 them into the system. It is even doubtful whether they belong to the genus Calamaria : — 



1. Calamaria catenata, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1854, p. 287. — No anterior frontals; the vertical 

 plate broad, pentagonal, and almost as large as the occipitals; 13 rows of scales: scuta 187; scuteUa 41 

 pairs. Predominant colour dusky above, formed by minute black specks upon a pale ground tint ; below 

 ])ale buft' with an iridescent lustre, and marked with lateral series of square black spots, chiefly upon 

 alternate scuta. Four black lines throughout above, the upper bordering a pale medial streak, which is 

 simple upon the tail, but along the body forms a concatenation of elongated oval spots. An imperfect 

 whitish-buff collar, and similar marks before and behind the eye. Length of specimen 17 inches, of which 

 the tail is 2^ inches. From Assam. 



2. Calamaria reticulata, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1854, p. 287. — Vertical plate hexagonal, angu- 

 lated to the front, and not half so large as the occipitals ; supraorbital large and subtriangular. Thirteen 

 rows of scales: scuta 136-138; scutella 27-28 pairs. Colour shining dull black, brilliant and iridescent 

 l)elow ; minute yellowish- white specks on the side of the mouth, throat, and along the sides of the body. 

 In spirit the edges of the scales are seen to be of a deep black, imparting a reticulated appearance. The 

 larger of two specimens measures 12 inches, of which the tail is 2^ inches. From Assam. 



Calamaria siamensis. (Plate XVIII. fig. B.) 



Upper labials four ; the first pair of lower labials are in contact with each other ; there is 

 no azygos shield in contact with the anterior chin-shields. Vertical shield not much longer 

 than broad or as broad as long, six-sided, much smaller than an occipital. The circumference 

 of the body is one-sixteenth or one-eighteenth of the total length. Ventral shields 179-190 ; 

 subcaudals 12-20. Brownish above, minutely dotted with black, uniform or with seven 

 indistinct blackish lines ; neck with a black collar, which has a more or less distinct whitish 

 posterior margin ; upper part of the tail \\ith two or three pairs of white spots, one at its 

 base, the other behind the middle and remote from its extremity, the third on its extremity ; 

 in females with a short tail there are only two pairs of these spots. Ventrals and sub- 

 caudals whitish, densely punctulated with brown, only the hind margins of the shields 

 remaining immaculate. 



