186 OPHIDIA. 



Rhinophis sanguineus. (Plate XVII. fig. A.) 



Rhinophis sanguineus, Beddome, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, p. 227. 

 microlepis, Beddome, I. c. pi. 26. fig. 2. 



Snout acutely pointed ; the length of the rostral shield is one-third of that of the head ; 

 it is slightly compressed into a very obtuse longitudinal keel ; vertical rather longer than 

 broad. Caudal shield large, flattish in front, obtusely convex behind, scarcely extending on 

 to the lower surface of the tail, its extent being rather more than that of the head. Fore- 

 most part of the trunk surrounded by nineteen, farther behind by seventeen, its middle by 

 fifteen series of scales. Ventral shields 197, twice as large as the scales of the adjoining 

 series; subcaudals partly entire, partly bifid, nine or ten in the male, six or seven in the 

 female ; the subcaudals, the hinder ventrals, and the scales in their vicinity are provided with 

 from four to eight keels in the male sex. Uniform black above ; belly with the three outer 

 series of scales scarlet, many of the scales and ventral shields having a black spot. Caudal 

 shield black, with a yellow median streak and with red outer margin. A large black spot 

 on tlie lower side of the extremity of the tail. 



Captain Beddome wiites that he has prociu'ed numerous examples of this species at 

 Cherambady in the Wynad, at an elevation of 3500 feet ; all were dug up in one spot ; and 

 he has not met with it elsewhere. The specimen he sent is 13 inches long, and a male. 



We have given two views of the head, a portion of the side of the body and of the belly, 

 and the posterior view of the tail : all of the natural size. 



Rhinophis blythii. 



Rhinophis blythii, Kelaart, Prodr. ii. p. 14. Peters, Uropelt. p. 17. 

 Mytilia templetonii, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1858, p. 263 (old age). 



melauogaster, Gray, I. c. p. 264 (male, not full-grown). 



Plectrurus ceylonicus, Peters, Monatsber. Berl. Acad. 1859, p. 388. 

 Rhinophis' melanogaster, Peters, Uropelt. p. 18. tab. 2. fig. 4. 



Snout pointed ; the length of the rostral shield is much less than one-half of that of the 

 head ; it is very slightly compressed above ; vertical longer than broad. Caudal shield small, 

 not of half the extent of the head. Anterior part of the trunk suiTounded by nineteen, the 

 remainder by seventeen longitudinal series of scales. Ventral shields not much larger than 

 the scales of the adjoining series, varying in number from 150 to 169. 



In other respects this species varies considerably : — 



o. In specimens from 13 to 14 inches long [Rh. blythii) the circumference of the thickest 

 part of the body is one-eighth of the total length ; the extremity of the caudal shield is 

 obtuse, with the keel which may be observed in younger individuals worn ofi". Subcaudals 

 divided, from seven to nine. Brownish above ; belly sometimes paler, sometimes blackish ; 

 a series of five or six triangular yellowish spots, united at the base by a more or less distinct 



