NOTES ON SNAKES FROM DARJEEL/NG. 341 



the coloui-ation of this snako is the brilliant crimson band on each side of the 

 ventnils in adults. Nearly all tho specimens were so ornamented. Very 

 young specimens had no trace of this flaming hue. One young specimen which 

 had swallowed a skink (Lj/gosoma iitdica) was rent in the side so that the back 

 legs of tho lizard protruded 



TropidonotuH himalayanus (Gi'inther). 



This species has an extensive range of altitude. In Assam it is not un 

 common in the Plains, and here in the Eastern Himalayas the P specimens 

 collected were from below Tindharia up to Darjeeling. Two examples 

 had eaten large specimens of the common eastern toad (^Bufo meldnoU/duit). 

 The labials in two were aberrant numbering 7, the 3rd and 4th touching the eye. 



I'ropidoito'us stol tun (Linn). 



My only specimen was from below Tindharia. 



Irjp'dofiotus submlidutus (Scblegel). 



Of 37 specimens collected, 34 were from Pashok, and 3 from Tindharia. 

 The labials though usually 8 with 3rd, 4th and 5th touching the eye, are very 

 frequently \) with the 4th, 5th and 6th touching the eye. There were 4 post- 

 oculars on one side in one specimen, and the anal was entire jn another. The 

 Bubcaudals were 96 in one example. The young have bluish heads, a hue 

 which enhances the ornamentation of this very brilliantly coloured snake. My 

 smallest specimen was 10 inches, and was killed between the 25th of July and 

 5th of August. 



Pseudoxenodon macrops (Blyth). 



57 specimens of this very common Eastern Himalayan snake were 

 acquired, 2 from Darjeeling, 17 from Kuiseong, 35 from Pashok. and 3 from 

 Tindharia. One brought to me by Dr. Seal had been encountered in his 

 garden, and when disturbed struck fiercely at him with erect, and flattened 

 neck. The degree to which this snake flattens its neck is very marked being 

 more pronounced, I think, than in any of the Tropnlonott with which I am 

 acquainted. One example was found to have eaten a frog. The largest was 

 a (J, 4 feet 2^ inches, and in this the secretion of the anal gland was ochra- 

 ceous-yellow and of the consistency of custard. A pahari told me it is called 

 by them " Gooroobi Samp," and he referred to the way it flattened its neck. 



The ornamentation of this species is very varied, nnd in seme specimens 

 exti-emely beautiful. In a ycung example the head was slaty-blue, behind 

 th 8 the nape bore a broad intensely black arrowhead, bordeied behind with a 

 narrower hand of cinnamon. In some specimens the head is rich dark-green, 

 in some the arrowhead is billiard-cloth green, in others lilac, and in others is 

 completely absent. In some the back is nearly uniformly olivaceous-green or 

 brown. In some the series of dark costal spots is bui obscure, in others very 

 black, or purplish. In some no trace of light crof^sbais can be seen, in others 

 they ai-e more or less distinctly visible, in others very conspicuous sometimes 

 whitish, sometimes cinnamon, or the anteiior whitish, and the posterior 

 cinnamon. Some specimens are chequered with green, black, amber and 



