272 UEOrELTIDiE. 



324. Plectrunis aureus. 



I'lectrurus iiiireu^, Beddome, P. Z. S. 1880, p. 18:i : id. A. M. N. H. 

 (5) xvii, 1886, p. 26. 



A'ery closely allied to the preceding, tbe only structural difference 

 being found in the ventrals, which are a little broader, viz. twice 

 as broad as the contiguous scales. Diameter of body 39-44 times 

 in the total length. Ventrals 164-177; subcaudals 8-12. Of a 

 brilliant golden colour, brighter beneath ; the scales edged with 

 violet, with or ^\'ithout a few irregular narrow ^ iolet-bhick cross- 

 bars on the back; the belly much ornamented \^ith -siolet-black 

 cross-bands or alternating spots. 



Total length 16 indies. 



Hah. Chambi-a Hill, Wynaad, 4.j00-600U feet. 



Genus MELANOPHIDIUM, 

 Guiither, Eept. Brit. lud. p. 193, 1864. 



Eye in the ocular shield. A median groove along the chin. 

 Kg supraocular ; no temporal. Tail cylindrical or slightly com- 

 pressed, the terminal scute pointed or with one or two vertical 

 ridges. 



Distribution. Southern India. 



/Si/nojjsis of iJie h>ijecies. 



A. Leugth ut' Irmital ecj^iial to its distauce from 



end of snout. 

 a. Suture between ocuhir and frontal more than 



one third length of latter shield M. icynadense, p. '272. 



h. Sutm'e between ocular and frontal less than 



one third length of latter shield M. pnnctatuin, p. 273. 



B. Length of frontal exceeds its distance from end 



of snout ; suture between ocular and frontal 



less than one third length of latter shield . . M, hiltaeatum, p. 273. 



'S2o. Melanophidium wynadense. 



Plectrurus wynandensis, Beddome, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 228. 

 Melanophidium wj'nandense, GUnth. Pept. B. 1. p. 1U4, ])1. xvii, fig. I ; 

 Thcvb. Cat. p. 138 ; Beddome, A. M. N. H. {b) xvii, 1886, p. 30. 



Snout rounded ; rostral small, just visible from above ; f'roidal 

 as long as its distance from the end of the snout; suture between 

 the ocidar and the frontal more than one third the length of the 

 latter shield. Eye very small. Diameter of body 44 to 48 times 

 in the total length. 15 scales round the middle of the body, 17 

 or 19 behind the head. A^entrals rather more than twice the 

 size of the contiguous scales, 176-185; subcaudals 10-15. Black, 

 beautifully iridescent, uniform or with large yellow spots on the 

 belly. 



Total length 18 inches. 



Hah. Xear Mauautoddy, AVynaad, 3000-5000 feet. 



