SIMOTES SWINHONIS. 215 



SiMOTES siGNATUs. (Plate XX. figs. F, F.) 



Simotes purpurascens, var. F, Gilnth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 26. 



Scales in seventeen rows. Occipitals rounded behind. Loreal distinct ; one prae- and one 

 postorbital ; seven upper labials, the third and fourth forming the lower part of the orbit ; 

 temporals 1+2. Anterior chin-shields not much longer than broad, in contact vsdth three 

 labials; posterior chin-shields scale-like. Ventrals 149-157 ; anal entire; subcaudals 59-47. 

 Ventrals without keel. Brown, with reddish-white cross bands edged with darker. Belly 

 whitish, with a few small brown lateral spots anteriorly. 



Var. a. Specimen 21 inches long; tail 5 inches. Fifteen cross bands on the trunk, broadest 

 in the middle, tapering on the sides ; their widest part covers three to four transverse series 

 of scales, and is one-fourth of the interspace between the bands ; a whitish transverse line 

 crosses the middle of each interspace. 



Var. ^. Specimen 15 inches long ; tail 3 inches. Fourteen whitish escutcheon-like spots 

 along the back, the point of which is directed forwards, emitting on each side a whitish 

 streak descending obliquely backwards ; each spot is longer tlian broad, half as long as the 

 interspace between two spots; an indistinct oblique whitish line in the middle of each 

 interspace. 



The two specimens are said to be from Singapore ; but whether this is their real native 

 place, or they have been merely procured there, is uncertain. 



We have given an entire figure of the specimen of var. /3 (F), with two views of its 

 head (F). 



Simotes cineeeus. 



Scales in seventeen rows. Occipitals truncated behind ; loreal distinct ; a large praeorbital, 

 below which there is sometimes a second very small one; two postorbitals ; eight upper 

 labials, the fourth and fifth forming the lower part of the orbit; temporals 1 + 2. Anterior 

 chin-shields twice as long as broad, in contact with four labials ; posterior chin-shields scale- 

 like. Ventrals 165, with an obtuse keel along each side; anal entire; (tail injured). Uni- 

 form brownish grey above, white below ; a very indistinct spot below the eye. 



We have received only one example, from Gamboja; it is 17 inches long without the tail, 

 which is broken off. 



Simotes swinhonis. (Plate XX. fig. E.) 



Scales in seventeen rows. Occipitals truncated behind ; loreal distinct ; two prseorbitals, 

 the lower of which is smaller than the upper ; two postorbitals ; eight (seven) upper labials, 

 the fourth and fifth forming the lower part of the orbit ; the second and third or the seventh 

 and eighth are sometimes united into one shield; temporals 1+2. Anterior chin-shields 



