232 OPHIDIA. 



each side of the neck, followed by a series of black spots, which are confluent into a more or 

 less interrupted band which runs along the joining edges of the fifth and sixth outer series 

 of scales and gradually disappears on the tail; an indistinct black line runs between the 

 third and fourth series of scales and disappears on the anterior third of the trunk. Belly 

 uniform whitish. 



I have examined only a single specimen of this species ; it is not known from what part of 

 British India it came; it is 16 inches long, the tail measuring 4 inches. We have given a 

 lateral view of the head, of the natural size. 



Cyclophis monticola. 



Calamaria monticola, Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. 50. 



Body rounded, of moderate length ; tail rather short ; head rather narrow, not depressed, 

 with the snout of moderate length, obtusely conical. Eye of moderate size, with round pupil. 

 Eostral shield narrow, much higher than broad, reflected on to the upper surface of the head, 

 with an obtuse angle behind. Anterior frontals twice as broad as long, about one-third the 

 size of posterior ; posterior frontals subrhomboidal, rather broader than long. Vertical six- 

 sided, much longer than broad, with an obtuse angle in front and with a right angle behind, 

 the lateral margins being nearly parallel; supraciliaries well developed, elongate, rather 

 narrow ; occipitals long, as long as vertical and posterior frontals together, rounded behind. 

 Nostril an oblique slit, directed forwards, in a single nasal plate of moderate size, which is 

 not much larger than the loreal. Loreal oblong, longer than high, rather larger than the 

 single prseorbital, which does not extend upwards to the upper surface of the crown. Two 

 postoculars, subequal in size. Six upper labials, the third and fourth entering the orbit : the 

 third is in contact with loreal and prseocular, and forms the anterior angle of the orbit ; 

 the fourth is below the centre of the eye ; the sixth upper labial is the largest, and as large 

 as the fourth and fifth together. Temporals 1 + 1 : the anterior is elongate, and in contact 

 with both postoculars ; the posterior is short, rhombic. Six lower labials on each side : the 

 first pair form a suture together behind the mental. Two pairs of elongate chin-shields, each 

 being more than twice as long as broad ; the anterior in contact with four labials. Scales 

 smooth, in fifteen rows ; ventrals 125 ; subcaudals 44 ; anal bifid. All the teeth subequal 

 in size, about nineteen in each maxillary. Dark olive-brown, with a bright yellow collar and 

 with a whitish dorsal line ; beneath of a citrine colour. 



This description is taken from the typical specimen, which is still preserved in the Oxford 

 Museum ; it is only 50 lines long, the tail measuring 9 lines. This species inhabits the Naga 

 Hills in Assam. 



