EUTX, 



247 



the posterior. Head covered with small scales. No mental groove. 

 Eye very small, with vertical pupil. Scales very small, keeled. 

 Tail very short, slightly prehensile : subeaudals simple. 

 A single species. 



287. Gongylophis coiiicus. 



Russell, Iml. Serp, i, pi. iv. 



Boa conica, Schneid. Hist. Amph. ii, p. 2t)8, id. Denhschr, Miinch. 



Acad, vii, 1821, p. 119, pi. vi, fip-. 2. 

 Gongylophis conicus, Grmi, Zool. Misc. p. 43 ; Gi'mtli. liepf. B. I. 



p. 333 ; rheoh. Cat. p. 207 ; Minray, Zool. Sind, p. 380. 

 Evvx conicus, Dum. ^- Bihr. Erp. Giin. vi, p. 470 ; Jan., Icon. Ophid. 



p. 73, 1.4, pi. iii. 





Fig. 75. — Gongylophis conicus. 



Eostral about twice as broad as deep, feebly prominent, not 

 keeled ; only the nasals and internasals enlarged, the rest of the 

 head covered with small obtusely keeled scales ; 8 to 10 scales 

 from eye to eye across the forehead ; 10 to 15 scales round the 

 eye, which is separated from the labials by one or two rows of 

 scales; 12 to 14 upper labials. Scales tubercularly keeled ; the 

 keels very strong on the tail, in 40 to 47 vowa. Ventrals 168-176 ; 

 anal entire; subeaudals 17-24. Tail tapering to a point. Yellowish 

 or brownish grey, with a broad zigzag band or series of dark brown 

 black-edged spots along the back ; lower parts uniform white. 



Total length 2 feet ; tail 2 inches. 



Hah. India, from Sind to Bengal and the Anaimallai Hills. Feeds 

 on mice ; a specimen I kept alive showed a fierce temper. 



Genus ERYX, 

 Daudin, Hist. Kept, vii, p. 251 (part.), 1803. 

 Anterior maxillary and mandibulary teeth a little longer than 



