218 OPHIDIA. 



1+2. Ventral shields 170 ; anal entire; subcaudals 43. Ventral shields distinctly keeled 

 on the sides. Light brownish, with three rather indistinct dark longitudinal bands — one 

 along the back, and the lateral along the third and fourth outer series of scales ; these bands 

 disappear entirely when the epidermis is lost. Head with the markings usual in this genus. 

 Belly yellowish, each ventral shield with a brown spot near the lateral edge, the spots forming 

 two chain-like series ; subcaudals nearly uniform yellowish. 



One example of this species is 21^ inches long, the tail measuring Si; inches. It was in 

 a collection containing only species from British India, hence it is probable that it is a native 

 of the continent of India. 



Cantor, in his list of Indian Snakes (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. -51), mentions a Coronella 

 cyclura, the typical specimen of which, unfortunately, appears to be lost. A coloured drawing 

 of it, with a short description, are in the possession of the Oxford Museum ; and from their 

 examination it did not appear to me to be impossible that they have been taken from a 

 specimen of S. Mcatenatus. However, the dra-wing does not represent a snake with the 

 physiognomy of a Simotes, the coloration of the upper parts is different, and C. cyclura 

 would appear to have only one prseocular. Under these circumstances, I have preferred to 

 describe our specimen under a distinct name. 



Simotes albocinctus. 



Coronella albocincta, Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. 50. 

 Simotes albocinctus, Bum. ^ Bibr. vii. p. 633. pi. 82. fig. 1. 



Scales in nineteen rows. Loreal distinct ; two (or three) prseorbitals, the upper much 

 larger than the others ; two postorbitals ; eight upper labials, the (fourth and) fifth of which 

 enter the orbit. Ventrals 175-181 ; anal entire; subcaudals 47-65. Brownish, with about 

 eighteen white, dark-edged cross bands ; a pair of fine black transverse lines in the middle 

 of each interspace between these cross bands. Head with the usual cross bands, which are 

 whitish and edged with darker. The ventral shields are alternately uniform white or marked 

 with quadrangular brown spots. 



Assam (Chirra-Punji). 



Simotes fasciolatus. (Plate XX. hg. B.) 



Simotes trinotatus, var., Giinth., Proc. Zool. Soc. 1860, p. 114. 



Scales in twenty-one rows. Occipitals obliquely truncated behind ; loreal distinct ; two 

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

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

 2+2-1-3. Anterior chin-shields not quite twice as long as broad, in contact with four lower 



