MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 413 



converge to meet at an angle in front of the eye, hence the loreal 

 pit is triangular with its apex backwards. (This is the invariable 

 arrangement.) 

 Suprahreal — Placed between 1st or superior preocular and the nasals. 

 Preoculars — 3. ist, superior largest ; 2nd and 3rd, fillet-like, converging 

 towards eye ; 3rd, not actually in contact with eye. 



Postoculars — Usually 2, occasionally 3, the inferior passing well beneath 

 the eye, separating the 3rd or 4th labials from the orbital ring. 



Temporals — 2 and 2, or 2 and 3. The anterior inferior, one very large and 

 labial-like. Not keeled. 



Labials — 'Usually 7, 3rd entering the eye. 

 {a) 2nd, smallest ; 3rd and 4th, large ; 5th, very small ; 6th, largest. (17 



specimens.) Less frequently 6, 2nd entering the eye. 

 (h) 4th, small ; 5th, largest. (5 specimens.) In 2 specimens (a) arrange- 

 ment on one side, (6) arrangement on the opposite. In 1 specimen 

 8, 3rd entering the eye on one side. 

 In 1 specimen this last arrangement only on one side ; (a) arrangement 

 on the opposite. 

 Eije — Moderate, lateral inclined slightly forwards. 

 Iris — Black, dusted with golden specks. 

 Pupil — Vertical. 



Ante'ior chin shields — In contact with 3 or 4 lower labials. 

 Post chin shields — Absent. 



3 to 7 gular rows separate ; anterior chin shields from 1st ventral. 

 Tail — Suddenly and rapidly tapers after vent. Last caudal scale long 

 equals about 3 of last subcaudals. 



Very frequently a small scale is wedged into one or more of the angles 

 between the head scales. 



Coloration — Dorsum — Variable shades of olive-brown form the ground- 

 colour, upon which is arranged a Very handsome and irregular series of 

 markings picked out with deep sepia, and with centres of the ground-colour, 

 so as to give an effect very similar to a carpet pattern, and so arranging 

 themselves in the middle of the back as to have a more or less well-defined 

 zigzag line of the ground-colour centrally. 



The flanks are beautifully mottled with pale sepia-grey, deep sepia, and 

 olive-brown, with enamel-white dapplings at the side of the neck. 



Head a darker shade of the ground-colour, with dark markings on the pre- 

 frontals, f rontals, supraorbitals, and parietals. A dark streak from the eye 

 to the gape picked out boldly with enamel-white. 



Lips, chin and throat whitish or pale pink, usually the fourth and fifth 

 lower labial sutures are pigmented. In dark specimens all the sutures ar^ 

 pigmented, and in light specimens none ^re sometimes, 



