897 



NOTES ON SNAKES COLLECTED IN THE JALPAIGUKi 



DISTRICT. 



BY 



Major F. Wall, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S. 



( With a Map.) 



Last year I received a collection of snakes i'roni Mr. W. A. Jacob, 

 I.F.S., made by himself in tne Jalpaignri District. 



With two exceptions, vh., one Dipsadomorplms cynodon, which was 

 caught west of the Tista River, and the Naia hungarvs, which was 

 killed in the Bnxa Division (2,000 ft. elevation), about 100 miles east 

 of the Tista, all were collected between 10 to 50 miles east of the 

 Tista, at altitudes varying from about 500 to 1,200 feet. 



From this collection it would appear that the boundary between the 

 Bengal and Assam Tracts, north of the 25th parallel is placed too far to 

 the east by Blanford (see figure A). There can be little doubt that 

 this boundary should be the Tista River or still further west (see figure 

 B). It even seems probable that all the territory lying above ihe 25th 

 parallel east of Purneah should be included in the Assam Tract (see 

 interrupted red line in figure B). In support of this are the following 

 records. From the east Typhlops diardi and Simotes cydurus have 

 been found as far west as Purneah. Simotes alhocinctus as far west 

 as Kaliganj. 



Of Indian snakes Polyodontophis Sagittarius is recorded as far east 

 as Darbangha, Simotes arnensis to Kaliganj, Zamenis fasciolatus to 

 Monghyr, Dipsadonxorphus forsteni unA Bungarus cceruleus to Purneah. 

 All of these records are based on specimens in the Indian Museum. 



Typhlopid^. 



Typhlops diardi. 

 One adult specimen. The scale rows are '2(j anteriorly and in 

 midbody, and 24 at a point two headslengths before the anus. The 

 reduction of rows is singular and due to a fusion of the 2nd and 3rd 

 rows and the 5th and 6th rows both on the right side of the median 

 ventral. 



COLUBRIDyE. 



Tropidonotus stolatus. 

 Seven examples. 



