-352 JOURNAL, BOMB A Y NA TUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIX. 



dark spots anteriorly. I found three series usually, one mesial. On the other 

 hand in two speaimans at least, these spots were not visible at all, the dorsum 

 being uniformly dark-brown. 



DipfiadomorpJius trigonatus ^Schneider), 



Two specimens were obtained from below Tiadharia, both quite typical. 

 Dipsadomorphus hexagonotus (Blyth). 



One of the commonest of Eastern Himalayan snakes at altitudes below 

 about 5,000 feet. Of 72 examples, 67 were from Pashok, 5 from Tindharia. 



Lepidosis. — The costals at a point two heads-lengths behind the head are in 21 

 rows normally (19 in two, soon becoming 21), 21 in midbody. and 15 at a point 

 two heads -lengths before the anus (17 in one). The reduction of rows is very 

 similar to that of other species in this genus and characteristic. The rows 

 become 19 by the absorption of the uppermost row into the vertebral, then 17 

 very shortly afterwards by a confluence of the 3rd and 4th rows above the 

 ventral. Finally some distance behind, the 17 become 15 by the absorption of 

 the uppermost row into the vertebral. The first two steps in the reduction are 

 occasionally reversed. The 3rd and 4th subcaudals were entire in one 

 example. The supralabials were 9 with the 4th, 5th and 6th touching the eye 

 in one example on one side. The ventrals were 223 to 247, the subcaudals 

 from 100 to 119. 



Food. — In two specimens I found an agamoid lizard, probably a, Calotes, 

 had been swallowed and twice another lizard, viz., Japalura variegata, once a 

 fledgling, and in another I found a mass of bird's eggs with light blue shells. 



Many of the specimens had a remarkably ruddy shade in their tawny colour- 

 ation, most accentuated towards the edge of the ventrals where it became a 

 pinkish or salmon-red stripe. In two young specimens blackish oblique costal 

 streaks were visible, in one faintly, in the other distinctly. The eye in many 

 examples too (perhaps in all) was bright pink, reminding one of pink enamel 

 and quite distinct from the effects produced by htemorrhage into the eye 

 from local injury. 



Dipsadomorphus multifasciaius (^Blyth). 



Four specimens of this uncommon species were collected at Pashok. The 

 largest was 3 feet 9^ inches, and the tail 10 inches in length. 



Lepidosis. — The costals agree with those of hexagonotus, trigonatus, and others 

 of the genus. There are normally 21 rows anteriorly, and in midbody, 15 

 behind at a point 2 heads-lengths before the anus. The rows become 19 from 

 the absorption of the uppermost into the vertebral. Very shortly afterwards 

 they become 17 by a fusion of the 3rd and 4th rows above the ventrals, and then 

 again 1 5 by an absorption of the uppermost row into the vertebral. One example 

 was aberrant in a manner strictly comparable to what obtains in rare examples of 

 other species of this genus. The vertebral row divides into three, reunites and 

 again divides several times so that the scale rows become alternately 19 and 

 21. The ventrals and subcaudals were 228+109, 223+111, 245+115 and 



