216 OPHIDIA. 



twice as long as broad, in contact with three labials; posterior chin-shields one-third the 

 size of the anterior. Ventrals 158-168; anal entire; subcaudals 35-39. Ventral shields 

 with a very obtuse keel along each side. Eeddish olive above, with numerous indistinct 

 reticulated cross bands, produced by the blackish edges of some of the scales. Head with 

 scarcely any trace of markings. Lower parts pure white. 



I have seen three specimens of this species, one of which was brought by Mr. Swinhoe 

 from Amoy. It is 16 inches long, the tail measuring 2^ inches; we have given a figure of a 

 portion of its back, to show the coloration, and a side view of the head. 



SiMOTES T^NiATUS. (Plate XX. fig. A.) 



Simotes tseniatus, Gunth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, p. 189. 



Scales in seventeen rows*. Occipitals obliquely truncated behind; loreal distinct; two 

 prseorbitals, the lower of which is much smaller than the upper ; two postorbitals ; eight 

 upper labials, the fourth and fifth of which form the lower part of the orbit ; the lower 

 prseorbital is sometimes confluent with the third labial, so that three labial shields enter 

 the orbit; temporals 1 + 1 + 2. The anterior chin-shields are not twice as long as broad, 

 in contact with four labials ; the posterior are rather shorter than the anterior. Ventral 

 shields 150-166 ; anal entire ; subcaudals 42-44 in the male, and 30-35 in the female. 

 Head with the symmetrical markings usual in this genus distinct. Body brownish olive, 

 with a brown dorsal band enclosing a light vertebral line. A brown line runs along each 

 side of the body, along the joining edges of the third and fourth outer series of scales ; 

 sometimes it is only represented by a series of dark dots. Belly white, with quadrangular 

 black spots, more numerous in the female than in the male. Two large blackish spots on 

 the back of the tail — one at its root, the other near its extremity. 



This species inhabits Gamboja and the neighbourhood of Bangkok, and attains to the 

 length of 15 inches, the tail measuring 2 inches. 



Simotes tbilineatus. 



Simotes trilineatus, Dum. i^- Bibr. vii. p. 636. 



Scales in seventeen rows. Loreal distinct ; one prse- and one postorbital ; seven upper 

 labials, the third and fourth of which enter the orbit. Ventral shields 145; anal entire; 

 subcaudals 54. Body reddish brown above and below, with three longitudinal bands : one 

 runs along the vertebral line and is yellowish ; the others are white, bordering the sides of 

 the belly. 



This species is from the Indian continent, but from what part is not known. 

 * The former statement that the scales are in nineteen rows, is erroneous. 



