ASPIDURA TRACHYPROCTA. 203 



AspiDURA copii. (Plate XVIII. fig. E.) 



The postfrontal forms the entire anterior margin of the orbit, and is in contact with the 

 second, third, and fourth labials; no prseorbital ; postorbitals subequal in size; six upper 

 labials. Three pairs of chin-shields, the middle being not much larger than the others ; six 

 lower labials, the three anterior in contact with the front chin-shield, the third and fourth 

 with the middle, and the fourth with the hmder. Scales in seventeen rows, those on the side 

 of the vent and tail keeled. Ventral shields 128; subcaudals 34. The circumference of the 

 body is one-eleventh of the total length, the length of the tail two-elevenths. Brownish 

 above, minutely dotted with black: a series of pairs of black spots runs along the back; 

 there are twenty-six pairs of spots on the trunk, each spot occupying about four scales and 

 having a reddish margin in front and behind. The first pair of these spots form a collar. 

 A black transverse spot behind the angle of the mouth ; each labial with a black margin 

 behind. Belly white, marbled with black. 



The only specimen I have seen of this species is an adult male, 16^ inches long; we have 

 procured it by purchase, without locality marked ; it is very probable that it is a Ceylonese 

 species, like its congeners. I have named it after Mr. E. Cope, who first showed the existence 

 of another species of Aspidura. 



ASPIDUEA TEACHTPEOCTA. (Plate XVIII. figs. F, F'.) 



Aspidura tracliyprocta, Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1860, p. 75. 



The postfrontal forms the upper part of the anterior margin of the orbit, and is in contact 

 with the second and third labials, being generally separated from the fourth by a small prse- 

 orbital ; the lower postorbital larger than the upper ; six upper labials. Two pairs of chin- 

 shields : the anterior large, about thrice as long as broad ; the posterior small, scale-like, and 

 sometimes separated by another small, intermediate shield ; six (five) lower labials, the four 

 anterior of which are in contact with the anterior chin-shield. Scales in fifteen rows ; those 

 on the side of the vent are provided with a small, slightly curved spine in the male, whilst 

 in the female they are merely keeled or entirely smooth. Ventral shields 128-144; sub- 

 caudals 10-16 in females, 21-23 in males. The circumference of the body is one-ninth or 

 one-eleventh of the total length ; the length of the tail one-twelfth or one-seventeenth in 

 females, and one-ninth in males. Sometimes uniform brown above ; sometimes with four or 

 five series of small dark spots, which in other specimens are confluent into streaks. The 

 middle streak runs along the vertebral line, and is more frequently present than absent ; the 

 outer streak occupies the joining edges of the second and third outer series of scales. A dai"k 

 band along the side of the tail is always distinct. Belly more or less marbled with black. 



This species is nearly as common in Ceylon as A. hrachyorrhos, and attains to a length of 

 15 inches. 



The figures referred to by F are taken from a male, those by F' from a female. 



2 d2 



