TYPHLOPS BRAMINUS. 175 



Typhlops siamensis. (Plate XVI. fig. D.) 



Closely allied to T. horsjieldii. 



The width of the upper part of the rostral shield is somewhat less than one-third of that 

 of the head ; its lower portion is rather longer than broad. Nostril lateral ; nasal united 

 with fronto-nasal above the nostril, considerably dilated in its lower portion. The fronto- 

 nasals extend backwards to behind the rostral, but remain separate ; their hinder margin is 

 deeply concave. Praeocular as large as ocular, which extends nearly as far backwards as the 

 hinder labial. The labials are the same as in T. nigro-albus. The shields on the crown of 

 the head do not show any peculiarity, being subequal in size. 



Body scarcely thicker behind than in front ; the circumference in its middle is contained 

 thirteen times and a half in the total length. The tail is scarcely curved, extremely short, 

 its length being much less than the width of the head ; it terminates in a minute spine. 

 The body is surrounded by twenty-two series of scales. I count 3G8 transverse series; nine 

 series round the tail. 



Upper and lateral parts uniform greyish olive, the lower yellowish. 



We have only one specimen of this species, %\ inches long ; it was collected in Siam by 

 M. Mouhot. We have given figures of the head of thrice its natural size. 



Typhlops beaminus. (Plate XVI. fig. I.) 



Rondoo Talooloo, Russell, Ind. Serp. i. p. 48. pi. 43. 



Eryx braminus, Baud. Rept. vii. p. 379. 



Tortris russellii, Merr. Tent. p. 84. 



TypUops braminus, Cuv. Regne Anim. Dum. ^ Bibr. vi. p. 309. Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 52. 



russelliij Schleg. Abbild. p. 39. 



Rostral not much broader above than below, its width being about one-third of that of the 

 head ; the nasal is entirely separate from the fronto-nasal, the suture being continued above 

 the nostril to the upper surface of the head ; the nasal is in contact with the prseocular, 

 below the fronto-nasal. Nostril lateral. Upper part of the fronto-nasal almost as broad as 

 the rostral ; it extends rather more backwards than the rostral, but it does not touch its felloAv 

 from the other side. Prseocular as large as ocular ; eye very distinct. Four labials : the 

 first in contact with rostral and nasal ; the second with nasal and prseocular, but not with 

 fronto-nasal ; the third slightly ascending between prseocular and ocular ; the fourth below 

 the ocular, and extending rather further backwards than the latter shield. Frontal, supra- 

 oculars and parietals equal in size, twice as large as the scales ; interparietal equal to a scale. 



The body is rather thicker behind than in front ; the circumference in its middle is one- 

 thirteenth of the total length. The tail is slightly curved, very short, as long as the head is 

 broad ; it terminates in a minute spine. Body surrounded by twenty longitudinal series of 

 scales. In a specimen from Bengal I count 316 transverse series ; twelve round the tail. 



Uniform brown, paler beneath ; the upper shields of the head with a faint, crenulated, 

 whitish marginal line. 



