69 



0. BREVICAUDA, Gthr. 



Scales 15. Ventrals 172, subc. 30. Only one pair of 

 frontals ; rostral reaching far backwards. Labials 7 (3 & 4). 

 Loreal none. Greyish violet ; posterior whitish vertebral 

 stripe, bordered with black spots ; black lateral stripe. 

 Belly same colour, with square black spots ; head-markings 

 distinct. 



AnamuUies. Solitary museum specimen. 



SIMOTES, D. and B. 

 Anterior frontals short, transverse ; rostral produced back- 

 wards between them ; nostril between two nasals. Scales 

 smooth, 17-21 rows. Ventrals often have a slight lateral 

 keel. Head-markings of the family always present. 

 Palatine teeth. Generally 7 labials (3 and 4). Found in 

 India, but more common in Burma, Si am, &;c. Generally 

 larger than Oligodon. 



S. VENUSTUS, Jerdon. 



Scales 17. Ventrals 142-145, subc. 31-35. Anal bifid. 

 Brown, with 3 rows of round black yellow-edged spots ; 

 belly white with square black spots ; head-markings. 

 Western Coast. 



S. RUSSELLii, Daudin. Plate XI, fig. 2. 



Scales 17. Ventrals 160-190, subc. 47-56. Anal bifid. 

 Brown, with 20 to 30 broad black, slightly white-edged, 

 cross-bands ; belly white ; head-markings very distinct ; a 

 black fillet through the eyes ; a 5» rising from the throat, 

 the point on the vertical, the first cross-band forming 

 another s* behind it. Grows to 2 feet, tail one-seventh. 

 India, Ceylon ; common. 



S. BiNOTATUS, D. and B. 



Scales 17. Ventrals 181, subc. 41. Anal bifid. Rhombic 

 black-edged spots on each side of vertebral line, smaller spots 

 in the intervals ; belly white ; three angular head-markings. 

 Western Coast. 



