NOTES ON SNAKES COLLECTED IN UPPER ASSAM. 609 



TyPIII.OPID/K. 



Tjjphlops hraminus (Daudin). 



I obtained 15 specimens, mostly in the months of Ajiril and May, and all in 

 Dibrugarh. No less than 9 of these were 9 9 ■ ;uid all gravid in April and May. 

 The rest I believe were $ $. All the $ $ ranged in length between 6 and 6^ 

 inches. There are at least two distinct colour varieties, the one dark -brownish, 

 or brownish-black, and the other a very pale grey similar to the colour of a new 

 slate pencil for which I propose the name paUidus. I got three specimens of 

 the latter which is evidently less common. In all of these specimens the eyes 

 were quite invisible, differing thus from typical examples of this species, but I 

 could observe no differences in lepidosis between them and the common variety. 



In the gravid specimens the eggs varied in number from 2 to 7, were 

 very elongate and resembled grains of boiled rice. The largest measured 

 %h" X h"- ^^ lif^ it is an agile restless little creature. I noticed the tongue 

 which was white at the tips protruded as in other snakes, it is difficult to hold 

 owing to its glossy scales, and agility. In one's grasp it pushes vigorously with 

 its head, and insinuates itself forcibly between the clefts of the figures, at the 

 same time depressing its caudal extremity so as to push the little spine with 

 which it is endowed against the skin with sufficient force for one to be sensible 

 of its acuity. It seems to use this little spine to anchor itself, whilst t 

 circles round it as on a pivot. 



Typlilops diardi, Schlegel. 



Twenty specimens, 14 from Dibrugarh. 3 from Sadiya and one each from 

 near Tinsukia, near Doom Dooma, and near Halem. One adult specimen was 

 of a very pale grey colour, constituting a distinct colour variety for which I 

 suggest the name cinereus. In this the eyes were almost invisible. In most of 

 the specimens the scales were 24 in midbody though 26 rows were not in- 

 frequent. I notice that the rows reduce posteriorly by two, thus at a point 

 two heads-lengths before the anus they are 22 when the scales are 24 in mid- 

 body, and 24 when 26 in midbody. The absorption appears to be due to the 

 disappearance of the row next to the median ventral, either into the median 

 ventrals or the row on the outer side. I also noticed that in certain specimens 

 ihe median ventral row is a shade broader than the adjacent rows. I think at 

 any rate whether the enlargement is constant or not that the median ventral row 

 should be considered ventrals in all the snakes of this family, and the Glau- 

 coniidce. If so considered the costals would be in odd rows, as in almost every 

 other snake. In species in which the vertebral row is not enlarged, the median 

 dorsal row is still the vertebral, and to be consistent the median ventral row 

 should still be considered a true ventral though not enlarged. Analogy seems to 

 me to indicate that this is the proper way to view these shields. 



I had several specimens brought to me alive. It is a restless creature that is 

 difficult to hold partly by reason of the slipperiness of its scales, and partly 

 through its constant struggles. In moving it presses its terminal spine into the 

 hand. I noticed that in progression the posterior part of the body is flicked 



