( 130 ) 



R. sangumeus, Bed. P. Z. S, 1863, p. 227. 



jB, microlepis, Bed., 1. c. 



The male is thus described by Giinther. 

 Snout acutely pointed. Rostral one-third the length of head, 

 obtusely keeled above. Caudal larger than the head. Barely 

 reaching to the lower surface of the tail. Ventrals 197, twice as 

 large as adjoining scales. Sub-caudals, single and bifid, 9 or 10 

 in males, or 6 or 7 in females. The last ventrals, sub-caudals 

 and adjoining scales 4 to 8, keeled in males. 



Colour uniform black above. Belly and three outer rows of 

 scales scarlet, with some black spots interspersed. Caudal disk 

 black, with a yellow median streak and red outer margin. A 

 large black spot beneath the tail. 



Grows to 13 inches. 



Inhabits the Wynaad (Cherambady, .teste Beddome) at 3,500 

 feet altitude. 



A female from the Tinnevelly Hills may be thus described — 



Scales in 19 rows anteriorly, in 15 posteriorly. Yentrals barely 

 distinguishable from the rest, save on the throat, caudals 5 pairs, 

 and one single terminal scale. All scales smooth. Colour above 

 brown throughout, and brown below posteriorly, gradually chang- 

 ing to yellow on the fore-part, by the gradual increase in 

 breadth of a yellow margin to the scale, till at the throat the 

 yellow wholly replaces brown, the two colours sharply separated 

 along the fifth outer rows of scales. A broad yellow band on 

 either side of the tail below, with a narrow one above it, both 

 bands just encroaching on the caudal disk when they show as 

 a few orange spots. 



The female differs so from the male, as not to be easily recog- 

 nized from Giinther's description, drawn up from a male. 



R. Blythii Kelaart. Prod. II, p. 14, 



Mytil'm Templetonii, Gray. P, Z. S., 1858, p. 263 (aged). 



M. melanogaster, Gray, (immature male). 



