CYCLOPHIS NASALIS. ' 231 



trals 165, without keel, slightly bent up the sides; anal bifid; subcaudals 95. Crown of 

 the head, back, and posterior part of the body uniform olive ; a broad black band begins 

 behind the eye, becomes gradually narrower, and disappears in the second fifth of the total 

 length; a second streak or zigzag line runs from the throat along the outer edges of the 

 ventrals ; a third is intermediate between the band and the zigzag line, and disappears with 

 the first. Uniform yellowish below. 



We have received one specimen from Afghanistan and another from Mesopotamia. The 

 first is 27 inches long, the tail measuring 8 inches. 



Ctclophis calamakia. (Plate XVII. fig. K.) 



Cyclophis calamaria, Gunth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 250. 



Body of moderate length, not compressed ; tail rather long ; head of moderate length, with 

 obtusely conical snout, scarcely distinct fi-om neck. Kostral shield as high as broad ; anterior 

 frontals rather broader than long, not quite half as large as posterior; posterior frontals 

 much broader than long. Vertical twice as long as broad, with the lateral margins slightly 

 convergent; occipitals of moderate length, rounded behind. Loreal none. Nasal shield 

 large, long, replacing the loreal, in contact with the prteocular ; the nostril is small, situated 

 in its anterior half One praeocular, not extending on to the upper surface of the head ; two 

 postoculars. Seven upper labials, the third and fourth forming the lower part of the orbit. 

 Temporals large, 1+2. Two pairs of elongate chin-shields, the anterior being in contact 

 with four labials. Scales smooth, some with a very indistinct single apical groove, oblong, 

 ovate, in fifteen rows. Ventrals 129-132, scarcely bent up the sides; anal bifid; subcaudals 

 64-83. Greyish or brownish grey above ; each scale on the sides with two indistinct, very 

 small brown streaks on the base ; the scales on each side of the back are edged Avith black, 

 the black edges forming small irregular spots, which are more or less confluent into a very 

 narrow undulated line on the hind part of the body ; lower parts entirely white. In imma- 

 ture specimens the black lines are more distinct than in old ones, extending further back- 

 wards on the body : a young specimen, 4 inches long, has a broad black band across the hind 

 part of the occipitals. 



This small snake is not uncommon in Ceylon, but scarcer in the peninsula of India, and 

 attains to a length of 13-14 inches, the tail measuring 4 inches. We have given three views 

 of the head, of the natural size. 



Cyclophis nasalis. (Plate XVII. fig. M.) 



This species agrees in almost every respect with C. calamaria, but it may be readily dis- 

 tinguished by the presence of two prseoculars ; the nasal shield is very large and long. Ventrals 

 149; anal bifid; subcaudals 77. Greyish olive above; a slightly curved black streak on 



