NOTES OiV SNAKES FROM DARJEELING. iJ'i.i 



•2384- lOG. The pn«oculars were two in ono oxaniplc, two on one side, throu 

 on the other in the second specimen. One example had swallowed a lizard of 

 the species Jainilara varieijaUi. 



DipsaJomor2)hus rijaneus (Dumeril et Bibron). 

 One fine specimen was sent me from Tindharia, As in most of the species 

 of this genus the costals are 21 anteriorly, and fall to 15. The reduction of 

 rows is effected by the same fusion as in hexagonolus and others {q. r.) The 

 ventrals and subcaudals were 254+ 124, the tail being slightly docked. The 

 mucous membrane of the mouth is quite black in this snake, extending on 

 the roof of the gullet for some 5 or tj inches in this specimen, then breaking 

 up into a coarse mottling and disappearing. This black is not seen in any of 

 the other green snakes I know of the genera Drijophis, Coluber, or Lachesis, 

 in all of which the mouth is white ("pinkish in life). 



Dipsadomor pints ctjnodon (^Boie). 

 I obtained a fine example of this from Tindharia, conforming to Bouleuger's 

 variety B. The costals were 21 at a point two heads-lengths behind the head, 

 23 in midbody, and 15 at a point two heads-lengths before the anus. The 

 reduction from 23 to 21, from 21 to 19, and from 17 to 15 is due to the 

 absorption of the uppermost row into the vertebral. From 19 to 17 the 3rd 

 and 4th rows above the ventrals coalesce on the left side, the 4th and 5th on 

 the right. The ventrals were 256, the tail imperfect. This species is known 

 from the Plains, and is not to be considered a true Himalayan snake. I have 

 had two other examples from the Jalpaiguri District, which with this specimen 

 extend the previously recorded habitat. 



Psammodynastes pulveruhntus (Boie). 

 Of 15 specimens 4 were from Tindharia, 11 from Pashok, The ventrals 

 range between 163 and 170, and the subcaudals between 52 and 63. I found 

 the remains of a skink — probably a Lygosoma in the stomach of one. A 9 

 captured between the 20th and 24th of September at Pashok was gravid, 

 containing 10 eggs about half an inch long. Ifc was 1 foot 7| inches long. 

 Many of the specimens had bright ochiaceous spots or mottling in the flanks, 

 and in one example these were so abundant as to form an ochiaceous band. 



Drijophis prasinas. — Boie. 

 The only 6 specimens acquired were from Pashok. In all the scales were 

 15 anteriorly and in midbody, but 13 behind at a point two heads-lengths 

 before the anus, the reduction arising from a fusion of the 3rd and 4th rows 

 above the ventrals. In all the supralabials were 9 with the 4th, 5th and 6ih 

 touching the eye. The ventrals ranged from 197 to 20), and the subcaudals 

 from 159 to 175. My largest was a $ 3 feet 7i inches in length. 



Dryophis fronticinctus, — (Giinther). 

 See Plate, figs. 1, 2 and 3. 

 In the Darjeeling Museum I found a single specimen of a snake of thii 

 genus which I think must be assigned to fronticiuctus but in case there is any 

 doubt I describe and figure it. 



