208 OPHIDIA. 



of the mouth, where it becomes broader and confluent with a large nuchal spot ; a faint 

 continuation of this band runs round the throat. Back of the trunk with about thirty-seven 

 large rhombic black spots of equal size, each of which transmits a process downwards on 

 each side, the process being separated from the central spot by a few white scales. The 

 lower parts entirely white. 



A single specimen, 10^ inches long, was sent from Madi'as by Walter Elliott, Esq. 

 Figure G shows the coloration of the back. 



Oligodon subpunctatus. 



Oligodon subpunctatum, Dum. ^- Bibr. vii. p. 58. 



Loreal distinct ; eight upper labial shields, the fourth, fifth, and sixth of which enter the 

 orbit; temporals 2+2. Head with the usual symmetrical markings. Body greyish, with a 

 dorsal series of round black spots edged with white ; belly whitish, each ventral shield with 

 a black dot on each side, the dots forming regular longitudinal series. 



Coast of Malabar. 



Oligodon spinipunctatus. 



Oligodon spinsepimctatus, Jan, Arch. Zoo/. Anat. ii. p. 40. 



Scales in seventeen rows. Loreal distinct ; one praeocular and two postoculars ; nine upper 

 labials, the fourth, fifth, and sixth of which enter the orbit; temporals 2+2. Ventral 

 shields 193; subcaudals 62. Eesembles 0. subpunctatus in coloration, but has no spots on 

 the belly. 



The typical specimen is stated to be from Calcutta ; but this, of course, is incorrect, as the 

 genus Oligodon does not extend so far eastwards. 



Oligodok fasciatus. (Plate XIX. figs. D, D'.) 



Scales in fifteen rows. Loreal distinct ; one prseocular, two postoculars ; seven upper 

 labials, the third and fourth entering the orbit; temporals 1+2. Ventral shields 180; 

 subcaudals 40. Symmetrical markings on the head very indistinct: the second angular 

 band on the head is not confluent with the nuchal spot on the sides. Body brownish olive : 

 trunk with about twenty-seven broadish, brown, black-edged cross bands, each slightly 

 interrupted by a narrow yellow vertebral line ; the cross bands are subequal in size, rather 

 irregular in shape, each being apparently composed of four spots ; they are nearly as broad 

 as the interspaces between them. Belly whitish, with small brown spots, more numerous 

 on the sides than in the middle. 



