j.giz.] N. AnnandaIvE : Reptilia. 47 



26. Ablabes porphyraceus (Cantor). 



Boulenger, op. cit., p. 308. 



A common Mala3'0-Himala5^an snake probabl}^ not found at 

 great altitudes. Specimens were taken at Balek and between 

 Kalek and Misshing b^^ Capt. Wilson and ]\Ir. Kemp respectively- 



27. Ablabes pavo, sp. nov. 

 (Plate V, fig. 3.) 



A magnificent species easih^ recognized by the large black 

 and yellow ocelli on its back, but also to be distinguished by 

 numerous scale-characters, notabl}'^ by the large number of ventrals. 



Rostral much wider than deep, visible from above; supra- 

 nasals distinct, about half as long as praefrontals, which are also 

 distinct; frontal i^ times as long as broad, a little shorter than its 

 distance from the tip of the snout, almost as long as the parietals; 

 nasal completely divided, extending backwards as far as the suture 

 between the second and third labial ; no distinct loreal ; a single 

 praeocular ; two postoculars, only the upper one in contact with 

 the parietal; 7 upper labials, the third and fourth entering the 

 eye ; temporals 2-|-2 ; the shields on the sides of the head minutely 

 pitted; two pairs of chin-shields, the anterior pair in contact with 

 three pairs of labials, the posterior pair in contact with only one 

 pair. Scales in 19 rows. Ventrals 233; subcaudals 80; anal and 

 subcaudals divided. 



Colour. — Sides and back pale bluish grey, each scale bearing 

 an irregular patch of peach colour; back ornamented with a row 

 of large black longitudinally oval rings, each with a yellow centre 

 and separated one from another b}^ only a short interspace ; on the 

 tail the yellow centres of the rings break up into small spots and 

 finally at the tip, disappear altogether; about 50 rings in all; 

 sides with irregular zig-zag black, yellow-edged vertical bars; 

 ventral surface yellowish with numerous black cross-bars which are 

 usualh^ interrupted in the middle line ; head black with a broad 

 yellow bar across the snout, a second across the vertex behind the 

 eyes and a third across the nape, the two latter being A-shaped; 

 lips, chin and throat 5^ellow with large black spots. 



Length 640 mm. : length of tail 108 mm. 



Type. — No. 16797, Ind. Mus. 



Locality. — Upper Rotung; taken bj^^ 32nd Sikh Pioneers while 

 road-making, 13-xii-ii. 



28. Ablabes frenatus (Gunth.). 



Boulenger, Fauna, p. 306. 



A characteristic Assamese species. Three specimens were 

 taken at Upper Rotung (2,000 ft.) in January. Two were found 

 while road-making, while one was sitting coiled up in the middle 

 of a path. 



