NOTES ON SNAKES FROM DARJEELING. 



345 



row on the left side. This reminds one of the costal absorption in Zameuia 

 7ni«cosMs- when the rows reduce from 17 to IG, which is invariably producud by 

 the vertebral row becoming confluent with the next row on the left side. At a 

 point t h3ads-lengths after the head the rows are lG,at midbody IG, and 2 heads- 

 lengths before the vent 14, 1 can:iot agree with the designation of the sliiold, 

 called by Mr. Boulenger a siibocular. It appears to me obvious that this has 

 originated from a division of the 3rd supralabial, and I am of opinion that this 

 labial should be recorded as divided and included as one of the labials touch- 

 ing the eye. The ventrals and subcaudals are 193 + ILH. 



Zainenia korros (Schlegel). 

 Two specimens were cullncted at Pashok. 



Z imt-nis mticoius (Linn). 

 A single specimen from Tiiidharia. 



Coluber porphyruceua (Cantor). 

 Of 8 specimens collected, 2 were from Tindharia, and 6 from Pashok. 

 Probably it is more common than these figures would suggeso as I saw G speci- 

 mens in the St Joseph's College collection, and 11 in the Darjttling Museum. 

 The young are buff coloured with uniformly black, white-edged broad cross- 

 bare, which make them appear very diSerent from the adults. 



Colub'T c'j.nUirift (Boulenger). 

 This is one of the commonest species to be found about Darjeeling, but does 

 not occur or is rare below about 5 000 feet elevation. I got lo specimens, 

 1 from Darjeeling, 4 from Pashok and 5 from Kurseong. There were 7 in the 

 Darjeeling Museum and 4 in St, Joseph's College collection. 



LepidonU. — The costals are unusual in this 

 speoies, in that the rows are two less in front 

 than in midbody. a. condition I have seen 

 in some others of the genus, viz., hodgnoni, 

 helena, etc. Other species of the same Genus 

 as now understood have the same number of 

 scale rows in front as in the middle of the 

 body, viz., porpkyraccua , oxycrplialus frt naius, 

 prasiiiux, etc. It appears to me likely that 

 this difference in some of the species may 

 make it pos'^ible to subdivide the Genus 

 which as it now stands is large and cum- 

 bersome. The rows anteriorly for some 

 distance number 19, then at a point from 

 one to five heads-lengths behind the head the 

 4th I'ow above the ventrals (rarely the 5th) 

 divides, the rows then remain 21 till some 

 distance behind the middle of the body 

 where they fall to 19 again owing to a 

 coalescence of the 4th and 5th (rarely 3rd 



2J 



3 Specimens of Coluhar cantoris. 

 A 3rd Labial entire. 

 B „ „ partially divided. 

 C „ „ completely divided. 



