308 COXUBRID^. 



distiuct ; an iucUstiuct series of blackish-grey dorsal spots, almost 

 forming a dark undulating band ; sides marbled and freckled black- 

 ish grey, this colour being separated from the upper brown one by 

 a series of closely set black spots which are partially conspicuous 

 on the posterior part of the body ; chin dusky ; lower parts yello^^• 

 with a vermilion tinge, each ventral with a large black spot near 

 its outer extremity. (StoUczl-a.) 



Total length 17"5 inches ; tail 4-25. 



Hah. Camorta, Nicobars. 



373, Ablabes porphyraceus. 



Coluber 

 I. 



P- 



den-Sumatra, Rept. pi. — , fig. 1. 



Psaiumophis uigrofasciatus, Cantor, I. c. p. 53. 



Coroiiella callicepliulu?, Grai/, A. 31. K. H. (2) xii, 18o-"!. p. o'JO ; 

 Bhjth, J. A. S. B. xxiii, 185o, p. 280. 



tSnout more than t^ice as long as the eye, which is rather small : 

 rostral nearly twice as broad as deep, visible from above ; nostril 

 between two nasals ; suture between the internasals shorter than 

 that between the prefrontals ; frontal broad, as long as or a little 

 longer than its distance from the end of the snout, shorter than 

 the parietals : loreal rather small, longer than deep ,; a large pne- 

 ocular; two postoculars, both in contact with the parietal; tem- 

 porals 1+2; upper labials 8, fourth and fifth entering the eye; 

 4 or 5 lower labials in contact Mith the anterior chin-shields, A\hich 

 are longer than the posterior. Scales in ID rows. A'entrals 102- 

 215 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 52-76. Pale reddish brown abovje, 

 \\ith dark brown black-edged cross-bauds ; a black streak along the 

 middle of the head, and another on each side, from the eye to the 

 first transverse band ; jjosterior part of body and tail with t\\o 

 longitudinal black Hues, in addition to the cross-bands ; lower parts 

 uniform yellow. 



Total length 30 inches ; tail h'o. 



IJah. Eastern Himalayas, hills of Assam, Kortheru Eurma, Yun- 

 nan, Sumatra. 



Genus CORONELLA, 

 Lam'euti, Syu. Kept. p. 84. 1708. 



Maxillary teeth 12 to 16, increashig in size posteriorly; luandi- 

 bular tet'th subeiiual. Head short, scarcely distinct from neck ; eye 

 rather small, with round })upil ; head-shields normal. Body cylin- 

 drical ; scales smooth, in 10 to 25 rows, with apical pits : vejitrals 

 I'ounded ; tail moderate; subcaudals in two rows. 



This genus is distributed over Europe, Western Asia, Africa, 

 and America. One Indian species is referred to it. The Coronellce 

 are fierce snakes of terrestrial habits, feeding on lizards and snakes. 



