THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 63o 



Lepidosis. Jiosfral. — Touches 4 shields, the rostro-nasal beiug 

 about twice the length ot" the rostro-labial ; the portion visible 

 from above is greater than its distance to the frontal, and nearly 

 one-fourth the shielded part of the head. N'asals. — In contact 

 behind the rostral ; touching the 1st and 2nd labials. Frcefrontals. — 

 In contact with the 2nd and 3rd labials. Frontal. — In contact 

 with G shields ; about as long as the parietals. Ocular. — In contact 

 with the ord and -1th labials, Supralahials 4 ; the 4th longest. 

 Xabiin(jHal!i absent. Mental groove absent. Costals. — Broader than 

 long, smooth, with rounded outlines posteriorly; 19 (rarely 21) two 

 heads-lengths behind the head, 17 (rarely 19) in midbody, and 17 

 (rarely 19) two heads-lengths before the vent. About three 

 lieads-leugths behind the head, the rows reduce to 17 by a fusion 

 of the 4th and 5th rows above the ventrals. About three heads- 

 lengths further back the 4th row again divides to establish, 19 fur 

 a few rows, and again about two heads-leng-ths further back the 

 4th row is again absorbed, and the scale rows then remain 1 7. 

 Ventrals. — About 5 the breadth of the last costal row. In Wynaad 

 specimens they number 185 to 197 in the cf , and 194 to 208 

 in the $ . In Anamallay specimens they range from 214 to 231 

 in the c? , and from 218 to 230 in the 5, Anal. — Divided; 

 about twice the breadth of the ventrals. Suhcaudals. — Divided ; 9 

 to 12 in the cJ , and 6 to 8 in the 2 . Supracaudals. — The scales 

 on the subtnincate part of the tail have many keels. Terminal 

 shield. — Large and furnished with two points placed side by side. 



Anomalies. — One specimen obtained at Paralaihad 21 scale rows 

 anteriorly and 17 at midbody and behind. I considered this 

 merely an aberrant specimen of ocellata and sent it to the British 

 Museum where my view was confirmed. 



I have seen the last ventral sometimes divided. 



Dentition. — The maxilla supports 4 to 5 teeth. There are iiu 

 palatine, or pterygoid teeth. The mandibular series numbers 6 or 7. 



(To he continued.) 



