XII. DESCRIPTION OF A NE\\' SAND-BOA 

 FROM THE PERSIAN GULF. 



By N. Ann AND ALE, D.Sc, F.A.S.B., Superintendent, 

 Indian Museum. 



Some years ago Capt. R. E. Lloyd, I. M.S., while Surgeon- 

 Naturalist to the Indian Marine Survey, obtained a single specimen 

 of an undescribed Eryx which has been awaiting description in 

 the Indian Museum since he brought it to Calcutta. Its diagnosis 

 is as follows : — 



Eryx fodiens, sp. nov. 



This species is allied to E. jayakari, Boulenger, but may be 

 distinguished at sight by its prominent upper jaw. It does not 

 appear to be very closely related to E. persicus, Nikolski, which 

 it resembles in its projecting and trenchant rostral. 



The eyes are small and situated almost entirely on the dorsal 

 surface of the head They are separated one from the other by 

 5 rows of scales, surrounded by ir scales, and separated from the 

 labials by 3 scales arranged as follows — one large scale in front 

 and two superimposed smaller scales behind it. The rostral is 

 very large and prominent^ the portion visible from above being as 

 long as one of the internasals ; its posterior end is strongly angu- 

 late, its lateral margins are prominent and trenchant and its 

 ventral surface is concave at the base. The internasals, the 

 rostral and a small scale behind them meet together and form an 

 >C-shaped suture. There are 10 upper labials. A short mental 

 groove is present. The upper jaw, although very prominent, is 

 truncated in front as seen from above. 



The body-scales are smooth, arranged in 37 rows. The 

 ventrals are small, between e8o and 190 in number; there are 18 

 subcaudals. 



The tail is pointed and ends in a spur. The hind limbs, 

 which are unusually long, are provided with a well-developed 

 claw. 



The colour of the dorsal surface is dark brown with numerous 

 narrow, irregular zig-zag cross-bars of a dirt}'^ cream-colour. The 

 lower part of the sides and the ventral surface are yellowish white. 

 The head is pale olivaceous above, obscurely vermiculated with 

 dark brown on the occipital region. 



