276 XENOPELTID^. 



Geuus XENOPELTIS, 



Reiuwardt, in Boie, Isis, 1827, p. 564. 



Teeth small, equal, closely set, and very numerous (4 on each 

 .side of the pntmaxillary, 33-38 in each maxillary, 35 or 36 in 

 each ramus of the mandible). Deutary bone attached loosely 

 to the apex of the articular and movable on it. Head not 



Fig. 85. — Head of XcnojjcIfi.-< loticulvr. 



distinct from neck ; eye small, with vertically elli])tic ])upil. 

 Nostril between two small nasals; frontal in contact wilh a 

 large azygous occipital shield, which is in the middle between four 

 parietals. A mental groove. Body cylindrical : scales smooth, in 

 15 rows : ventrals large ; tail short, subcaudals in two rows. 

 A single species. 



331. Xenopeltis imicolor. 



Xeuopeltis unicolor, lieimr. in L'oie, Isis, 1827, p. oG4; Cantor, 

 J. A. S. B. xvi, 1847, p. 001 ; Bum. ^- Bibr. Erp. Gen. vii, p. 28 ; 

 Giinth. Jiept. B. I. ]>. 180 : Jan, Icon. Opliid. 0, pi. v ; Theob. Cat. 

 p. 140. 



Head much depressed, snout rounded ; frontal as long as its 

 distance from the rostral ; supraocular small, smaller than the 

 upper postocular ; a single large pra30cular or loreal shield ; 2 post- 

 oculars, up])er largest ; 8 upper labials, first in contact ^ith the 

 internasal, fourth and fifth entering the eye ; a pair of very small 

 chin-shields, in contact with the 3 anterior lower labials. Scales 

 in 15 rows. Ventrals 166-193; anal divided; sul)caudals 26-31 . 

 Black or brown aboAC, highly iridescent, scales with lighter edges, 

 white beneath ; head whitish in the young. 



Total length 3 feet 4 inches ; tail 4 inches. 



Hab. Burma, Indo-China, Malay Peninsula and Archipelago; 

 also Trichiuopoly, S. India. 



A snake of fierce habits, feeding on small mammals. 



