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the fifth and sixth and sometimes the fourth entering the orbit. 

 The fourth labial sometimes divided. Scales very slightly- 

 keeled in 27 rows. Colour reddish olive with numerous reticu- 

 lated black transverse bands anteriorly, each of which encloses 

 two white ocelli on either side, one above the other. Posteriorly 

 these ocelli are replaced by a broad lateral brown band running 

 to the tip of the tail. Neck with a pair of parallel longitudinal 

 black bands above, and with an oblique black band on the side. 

 A black line along the occipital suture, and another oblique one 

 from the eye along the seventh labial. Lower parts white. 



Grows to 42 inches. (Tail 8.) 



Inhabits Ceylon and Southern and Central India. 



Ptyas, Fitzinger. 



Form elongate, scarcely compressed. Eye large. Pupil round. 

 Nasals two. Anal bifid. Scales smooth or partly keeled in 15 

 to 17 rows. 



' P. hexagonotus, Cantor. 



Xenelophis hexahonotus, Cantor {QuntJier, gen) 

 Body and tail hardly compressed. Prsefrontals as long as 

 broad, more than half the size of the postfrontals. Loreal one 

 quadi angular, rather longer than high with its hinder angle 

 wedged between the prseoculars. Prseoculars two, the upper 

 largest. Three postoculars, the lower equalling the other two. 

 8 upper labials, the fourth entering the orbit. The fifth small 

 equal to the first. Anal bifid. Scales smooth without apical 

 grooves, the vertebral row enlarged, hexagonal. Brown with 

 black cross bands in the young. Belly yellowish. 

 ' Grows to 62 inches. (Tail 26.) 

 Inhabits Arakan, the Malayan Peninsula, &c. 



P. mucosas, L. 

 ' Body and tail scarcely compressed, Prsefrontals nearly half 

 as large as tlie postfrontals. Loreals three, one above, two below. 

 (A Ceylon specimen, GUnther says had one only). Two prae- 

 oculars, the lower small. Two postoculars. 8 upper labials, the 



