212 OPHIDIA. 



SIMOTES, Bimn. 4- Bihr. 



Rostral shield more or less enlarged, truncated, bent and produced back- 

 wards ; anterior frontals narrow, transverse ; nostril between two nasals. 

 Scales smooth, in seventeen, nineteen, or twenty-one rows. Teeth in the 

 maxillaries few in number, the last longer than the others ; palatine teeth. 



The Simotes are Oligodontes of a larger size and with palatine teeth ; the number of the 

 rows of scales is somewhat enlarged in Simotes, which, otherwise, has the same physiognomy 

 as Oligodon. In both we find the peculiar markings of the head which we have described in 

 the latter genus ; traces at least of those markings are always visible. These snakes are of 

 rather fierce habits, but perfectly harmless ; their geographical distribution is not so limited 

 as that of Oligodon, as they extend all over the continent and over many of the islands. 

 The following are found on the continent : — 



* Scales ill seventeen rows. 



t Anal bifid ; belly with quadrangular black spots. 



Loreal none S. venustus, p. 213. 



tt Anal bifid ; belly uniform white. 



Black, white-edged bands across the back S. russellii, p. 213. 



Angular, light-coloured, black-edged bands across the back . S. binotatus, p. 214. 



Uniform brownish above S. albiventer, p. 214. 



ttt Anal entire. 



White bands across the back S. signatus, p. 215. 



Uniform brownish grey above ; the anterior chin-shield is in 



contact with four labials ; belly immaculate, white . . . jS. ciwereM*, p. 215. 

 Indistinct reticulated bands across the back ; the anterior chin- 

 shield is in contact with three labials; belly immaculate, 



white S. stvinhonis, p. 215. 



Eight upper labial shields ; body with dark longitudinal bands ; 



belly with quadrangular black spots S. taniatus, p. 216. 



Body with three whitish longitudinal bands S. trilineatus, p. 216. 



** Scales in nineteen rows. 



Seven upper labial shields ; two prseorbitals, equal in size or confluent 



into one S. punctulatus, p. 217. 



(-S. labuanensis, p. 217.) 

 Seven (eight) upper labial shields ; two prseorbitals, the upper being 



the larger ; belly with two regular series of brown spots . . . . >S. bicatenatus, p. 217. 

 Eight upper labial shields ; two (three) prseorbitals, the upper being 



the larger; white, dark-edged bauds across the Ijack S. albocinctus, p. 218. 



*** Scales in twenty-one rows. 



Belly white ; numerous reticulated streaks and bands across the back ; 



ventrals 163 S.fasciolatus, ]). 218. 



Belly white; twelve black bands across the back ; ventrals 216 . . S. cochinchinensis, ^. 219. 

 Belly with quadrangular brown spots ; a triple series of spots along 



the trunk ; ventrals 183-189 S. trinotatus, p. 219. 



