THE AFGHAN DELIMITATION COMMISSION. 103 



than broad, its straight anterior border twice as long as the greatest width of the supra- 

 oculars. Parietals slightly longer than the frontal. The nostril is very indistinct ; but, 

 by pressing, fluid is expelled from the upper half of the oblique suture between the two 

 nasals ; of the latter shields the anterior is more than twice as large as the second. A 

 small loreal. Three pra;oculars, upper largest and in contact with the frontal ; a sub- 

 ocular ; two or three postoculars. Seven upper labials, none in contact Avith the eye, 

 three posterior largest. Two anterior temporals, upper smallest ; three or four temporals 

 in contact with the parietal. Six infralabials on each side in contact with the chin- 

 shields, the posterior pair of which is the smallest and separated by two pairs of scales. 

 19 rows of scales. Ventrals 171 ; anal divided in one specimen, single in the other ; 

 subcaudals 46 pairs. Upper surfaces pale buff, with brown, Jdack-edged, symmetrical 

 markings. An anchor-shaped marking on the head, the crescentic portion extending 

 from one angle of the mouth to the other, passing through the eye and crossing the 

 frontal and praefrontal ; the longitudinal branch expands in a large spot on the middle 

 of the parietals, and bifurcates on the nape. Large transverse spots disposed at regular 

 intervals on the body and tail, and alternating with smaller ones on the flanks. Lower 

 parts uniform white. Total length 125 millim. ; tail 70. 



[The only two specimens collected of this new species were obtained at Chinkilok on 

 the 27th and 29th May, 1885.— J. E. T. A.] 



31. PSAMMOPHIS LEITHII, Gthr. 



Psammophis leithii, Giiuth. Proc, Zool. Soc. 18G9, p. 505 ; Blanforcl, tuin. cit. p. 421. 



2 specimens. Helmaad. 



3 specimens. Hamun to Khusan. 



[This is a curious Snake in its habit, as it lives amongst the upper branches of l)ushes ; 

 the only specimens I collected were first noticed in that position. — J. E. T. A.] 



32. Taphrometopon lineolatum, Brandt. 



Taphrometopon lineolatum, Strauch, toni. cit. p. 185 ; Blanford, toni. cit. p. 422. 



4 specimens. Tirphul. 



1 specimen. Zindijan. 



[Obtained only in the Hari-rud valley. — J. E. T. A.] 



33. Naia oxiana (Eichw.). (Plate XL fig. 2.) 



Naia oxiana, Straucli, Bull. St. Pctersb. xiii. p. 81 ; Nikolsky, Tr. St. Petersb. Soc. Nat. xvii. 1886, 

 p. 405. 



? Naja, sp., Blanford, torn. cit. p. 426. 



2 specimens. Chinkilok. 

 1 specimen. Kara-bagh. 



An adult specimen, four feet long, and two heads I regard as belonging to this rare 

 Snake, as well as a young specimen from Gilgit presented to the British Museum by 



16* 



