XVII.— DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SNAKE 

 FROM NEPAL. 



By G. A, BouLENGER, F.R.S. 



Oligodon erythrogaster, sp. nov. 



Nasal undivided ; portion of rostral seen from above nearlj^ 

 as long as its distance from the frontal ; suture between the in- 

 ternasals shorter than that between the praefrontals ; frontal much 

 longer than its distance from the end of the snout, a little shorter 

 than the parietals ; no loreal, praefrontal in contact with the second 

 upper labial ; one prse- and two postoculars ; temporals 2 -i- 2 ; six 

 upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye ; four lower labials 

 in contact with the anterior chin shields ; posterior chin shields 

 two-thirds the length of the anterior. Scales in 17 rows. Ventrals 

 186 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 45 (end of tail injured). Back 

 pale brown, sides grey ; two dark brown streaks, enclosing a yel- 

 lowish vertebral streak, meeting on the tail, the prolongation extend- 

 ing to between the eyes ; a dark streak and three narrow black 

 lines on each side ; a a -shaped dark brown band across the snout, 

 passing through the eye ; a broad dark brown oblique band on each 

 side of the head, from the supraocular to the throat ; belly ver- 

 milion red in the middle, white on the sides, with two regular series 

 of semicircular black spots, confluent into two stripes posteriorly. 



A single specimen from Nagarkote, Nepal, altitude 6,000 feet, 

 presented to the Indian Museum by Major J. Manners Smith, 

 V.C., C.I.E., No. 15850, Reptiles, Indian Museum Register. 



A very distinct species, allied to 0. venustus, Jerd., but well 

 distinguished by its undivided nasal, its longer tail, an*"! .«j re- 

 markable coloration. 



