Opliiops. 223 



parietal \\ to 2\ times as loug as broad, in contact with the occipital 

 or separated from it by a small shield* or by the parietals meeting on 

 the median line.f 4 supraoculars, first and fourth small, first in 

 contact with the frontal, exceptionally divided into two, fourth more or 

 less band-like and sometimes separated from the frontoparietal ; 4 

 superciliaries, first and second longest ; a series of granules between 

 the principal supraoculars and the superciliaries. Two large nasals, an 

 upper and a lower, the anterior half of the latter resting on the 

 rostral, and a small postnasal wedged in between them, sometimes 

 reaching the nostril, sometimes not ; anterior loreal i the length of 

 the second ; 4 uppei- labials anterior to the subocular, which is much 

 narrower beneath than above and borders the mouth. 2 large upper 

 temporals, anterior the longer and in contact or not Avith the fourth 

 supraocular ; temporal scales small, granular, smooth or feelilv heeled ; 

 a large, opercle-like tympanic shield. 



6 pairs of chin- shields, J the three, rarely two, anterior in contact 

 in the middle ; 23 to 29 gular scales in a straight line between the 

 symphysis of the chin-shields and the ventral plates, the anterior 

 small and juxtaposed, the posterior enlarged and imbricate and 

 graduating into the collar, which is more or less distinct, free or 

 attached in the middle, and composed of 7 to 9 plates. 



Scales rather smalh strongly keeled ; a little larger and smooth 

 towards the ventral plates, from which they are abruptly differentiated ; 

 ventral plates in 6 longitudinal and 25 to 27 transverse series ; 56 to 

 64 scales and plates round the middle of the body. A large preanal 

 plate bordered by two semicircles of small plates, or two large plates, 

 one in front of the other. 



Scales on upper surface of tibia rhombic and keeled, as large as or 

 a little larger than dorsals. 12 to 16 femoral pores on each side. 

 Subdigital lamellae uni-, bi-, or tricarinate, 21 to 24 imder the 

 fourth toe. 



Upper caudal scales large, strongly keeled and shorth- mucronate ; 

 basal subcaudals smooth or obtusely keeled ; 16 to 20 scales in the 

 fourth or fifth whorl behind the postanal granules. 



Greyish or reddish brown above, uniform on the head and along the 

 middle of the back, with small blackish spots or reticulations on the 

 sides ; a white, often dark-edged, streak on each side from the super- 



* In single specimens from Ajmere and Bhuj ; also in the type specimen 

 figured by Blanford. 



t In a specimen from Kurliurbari. 



X Sometimes 5, according to Stoliczka ; Blanford describes the type specimen 

 as with 6 shields on one side and 7 on the other. 



