92. SIM0TE3. 



217 



Fourth and fifth labials entering the eye ; 



ventrals 171-180 ; subcaudals 34-42. 19. theobahli, ]^. 230. 

 Fourth aud fifth (rarely third and fourth) 



labials entering the eye ; ventrals 



148-173 ; subcaudals 27-37 20. cruentatus, p. 231. 



C. Scales in 15 rows 21. torquatus, p. 232. 



D. Scales in 13 rows 22. 2Jl'^niceps, p. 232. 



Table showing Numbers of Scales and Shields. 



splendidus 



purptirascens 



cydurus 



alhocinchis 



formosanus . . 



violaceus 



woodmaso7ii . . 

 octoliiieatus . . 

 pktsnoohalmus 



forhesii 



signatus 



subcariiiatiis . . 



annulifer 



tceniatus 



chinensis 



vaillayiti 



beddomii 



arnensis 



theohaldi 



cruentatus 



torquatus 



planiceps 



1. Simotes splendidus. 



Simotes splendidus, Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1875, p. 231, pi. xxxiii. ; 

 Boideng. Faun. Ind., Rept. p. 310 (1890). 



Nasal divided ; portion of rostral seen from above as long as its 

 distance from the frontal ; each of the internasals broken up into 

 two shields, there being four small shields in a transverse series ; 

 frontal longer than its distance from the end of the snout, slightly 

 longer than the ])arietals ; loreal deeper than long ; pra?ocular single, 

 ■with a small subocular below it, between the third and fourth 

 labials; two or three postoculars ; temporals 2 + 3; eight upper 

 labials, fourth and fifth entering the eye ; four lower labials in 

 contact with the anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin-shields about 

 two thirds the length of the anterior. Scales in 21 rows. Ventrals 

 193 ; anal entire ; subcaudals 41. Cream-colour, with sixteen large, 

 brown, black-edged spots above, longer than the interspaces between 

 them ; these spots indented in front and behind, and with at least 



