200 OPHIDIA. 



than broad, with an obtuse angle in front and a right angle behind. Occipitals narrow. 

 Nasals'?* Five upper labials: the first below the nasals; the second forming a suture with 

 the posterior frontal ; the third in contact with posterior frontal f, preeorbital, and eye ; the 

 suture between thii'd and fourth below the middle of the eye ; the fourth in contact with the 

 eye and posterior ocular ; the fifth is the largest, and forms a long suture with the occipital ; 

 an elongate temporal shield along the hind part of the lateral edge of the occipital. The 

 mental shield is in immediate contact with the chin-shields, separating the first pair of lower 

 labials from each other. Two pairs of chin-shields, the anterior being very long. Ventral 

 shields 131 ; subcaudals 26. Uniform brownish black. 



The typical specimen is still unique, and preserved in the British Museum. Unfortunately 

 it was very much dried when it arrived fi'om India, so that it does not admit of an original 

 description, although it proves, on comparing it with, the figure given by Cantor, that the 

 latter is correct in the main points. It was captui'ed on the Great Hill of Pinang, and is 

 Q^ inches long, the head measuring f inch, and the tail f inch. The circumference of the 

 body was ys inch. 



GEOPHIS, ^P^af/Ier. 



Body cylindrical, stout or slender ; head short, not distinct from neck ; 

 eye rather small, with round pupil ; tail short or of moderate length. Two 

 pairs of frontal shields ; two small nasals, nostril hetween ; loreal and ])rae- 

 ocular united into one elongate shield ; one or two posterior oculars ; rostral 

 small. Scales smooth, rounded, without apical groove, in thirteen, fifteen, 

 or seventeen series ; anal entire ; subcaudals two-rowed. Teeth equal. 



Species of this genus are found in tropical America and in the East Indies. One or two 

 occur in British India. 



Geophis microcephalus. (Plate XVIII. fig. A.) 



E-habdosoma microceplialum, Giinth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 12. 



Body rather stout ; tail rather short ; head small, short, conical, not distinct from neck ; 

 eye small, with round pupil. Rostral shield small, grooved, extending upwards to the upper 

 surface of the head ; anterior frontals small, one-third the size of the posterior ; the latter 



^^ We cannot distinguish whether there are two minute nasals or whether they are confluent into one. 

 t Incorrect in Cantor's drawing. 



