U3. oi.iGODox. 24^ 



from the end of the snout, as long as tlie parietals ; loreal as long 

 as deep; proeocular single; two postoculars ; temporals l-(-2 ; 

 seven upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye ; three lower 

 labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin- 

 shields about two thirds the length of the anterior. Scales in 

 15 rows. Ventrals 152 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 29. Brown 

 above, with a median series of large rhombic black spots, on each 

 side of which is a small spot separated by a whitish border ; head 

 with black markings, viz. an angular band across the forehead, 

 passing through the eyes, and a second behind, with the apex on 

 the frontal, descending to below the angle of the mouth, and con- 

 fluent with a large nuchal spot; an angular interrupted, narrow 

 black band across the throat ; lower surfaces whitish, unspotted. 



Total length 270 millim. ; tail 30. 



Madras Presidency. 



a. 2 (V. 152 ; C. 20). ^[adras Pies. Sir W. Elliot [P.]. (Type.) 



15. Oligodon subgriseus. 



Oligodon subgriseus, Dian. ^- Bibr. vii. p. 59 (1854) ; Giinth. Cat. 



p. 21 (1858); Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. ii. 1862, p. 39; 



Gimth. Rept. Brit. Ltd. p. 207, pi. xix. fig. F (1864J ; Jan, Icon. 



Gen. 48, pi. i. fig. 3 (1876) ; Blanf. Journ. As. Soc. Benq. xliii. 



1879, p. 114; Bowleng. Fatm. hid., Rept. p. 321 (1890); W. L. 



Sclater, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. Ix. 1891, p. 237. 

 Siniotes binotatus, Dum. ^- Bihr. t. c. p. 030; Jan, II. cc. Icon. 11, 



pi. vi. fig. 3 (1865) ; Gihitk. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 214. 

 Xenodon dubium, Jerdon, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxii. 1853, p. 528 



(1854). 

 Oligodon spilonotiis, Gilnth. I. c. p. 207, pi. xix. fig. E. 

 fasciatus, Giinth. I. c. p. 208, pi. xix. fig. D. 



Nasal divided ; portion of rostral seen from above as long as, or 

 a little shorter than, its distance from the frontal ; suture between 

 the internasals usually shorter than that between the pnefrontals ; 

 frontal longer than its distance from the end of snout, as long as 

 the parietals ; loreal about as long as deep ; prteocular single ; two 

 postoculars; temporals \-\-2; seven upper labiiils, third and fourth 

 entering the eye ; three or four lower labials in contact with the 

 anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin-shields one half to two thirds 

 the length of the anterior. Scales in 15 rows. Ventrals angulate 

 laterally, 15S-218; anal usually divided: subcaudals 38-56. 

 Brown above, with a series of large rhomboidal dark spots or trans- 

 verse bands, or pairs of spots, with or without a more or less 

 distinct light vertebral line ; head with, dark markings, usually 

 consisting of a crescentio band across the forehead, through the 

 eyes, to the fourth and fifth labials, a band, widening posteriorly, 

 from the parietals or from the frontal to the angle of the mouth, 

 and a large spot, bifid posteriorly, from the frontal to the nape ; 

 the upper surface of the head sometimes almost entirely blackish 



