246 OPHIDIA. 



shows its affinity to C. melanurum. It is numerous in diflferent parts of the Himalayas — 

 Nepal, Sikkim, Khasya : Cantor's specimens came from Chirra Punji. The largest specimen 

 I have seen is 46 inches long, the tail measuring 9 inches. 



We have given two \iews of the head, and one of a portion of the body, to show its 

 coloration. 



COMPSOSOMA HODGSONII. 



Spilotes hodgsonii, Criinth, Proc, Zool. Soc. 1860, p. 156. pi, 27. 



Body and tail elongate, compressed; head flat, distinct from neck; snout rather long, 

 obtusely rounded. Rostral shield as high as broad ; anterior frontals of moderate size, half 

 as large, or nearly half as large, as posterior, subquadrangular, broader than long. Vertical 

 large, five-sided, pointed behind, its anterior margin being rather longer than the lateral ; 

 lateral margins strongly convergent. Occipitals much longer than vertical, obliquely trun- 

 cated behind. Loreal longer than high, sometimes confluent with frontal ; one large pree- 

 ocular, extending on to the upper surface of the head, but not reaching the vertical ; two 

 postoculars. Generally eight low upper labials, three of which enter the orbit ; but sometimes 

 two, and even three, are confluent into one shield ; the fifth does not ascend to the hinder 

 margin of the orbit. Temporals irregular in shape and number, but only one is in contact 

 with the postoculars. Scales rhombic, not elongate, in twenty-thi'ee rows, those on the back 

 with feeble keels. Ventrals 226-256 ; anal bifid ; subcaudals 79-90. The ventrals have no 

 trace of a keel, and are bent up the sides. Each maxillary is armed with sixteen or seventeen 

 teeth, equal in size. Uniform brownish olive above ; the skin between the scales and a part 

 of the margin of the scales black. Lower parts uniform yellowish ; the outer part of the 

 margin of each ventral shield blackish. 



This species appears to be rather scarce ; we have received two specimens from Nepal 

 through Mr. B. H. Hodgson, after whom the species is named, and one from Ladak, Tibet, 

 stated to have been captui-ed at an altitude of 15,200 feet. The latter specimen is 51 inches 

 long, the tail measuring 11 inches. 



CYNOPHIS, Gra^. 



Body rather slender and compressed ; head narrow ; tail one-fifth of the 

 total length ; trunk with more than 200 short ventral shields ; eye of 

 moderate size, with round pupil ; nostril lateral, between two plates. 

 Shields of the head regular ; one praeocular. Scales slightly keeled or with 

 a pair of apical grooves, in from twenty-five to twenty-seven series. Anal 

 entire. Teeth numerous in the jaws and on the palate, subequal in size. 



