THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 37 



Posterior sublinguals touch the 4th infralabial only. Infralahials. — The 

 4th is the largest of the series, and touches 2 scales behind. Scales 13 

 in whole body. Anal divided. Subcaudals divided throughout. 



Distribution. —Ro.nges from the Himalayas (Kasauli,* Nepal and 

 Sikkim) through Assam, and Bnrmah to Southern China and Formosa. 

 Common in the Khasi Hills about Shillong. 



Poison. — Nothing known. 



Dimensions. — My largest specimen is 2 feet 7^- inches. 



Colour. — There are three very distinct colour varieties. 



Variety A, forma typica. — Cherry-red above with from 16 to 26 

 black bands on the body and 3 to 4 on the tail. These bands are 

 narrow, completely surround the belly and are outlined more or less 

 distinctly with buff or yellow. The belly is sulphur yellow, and a 

 large black irregularly-shaped blotch occurs between each band. It is 

 very common in the Khasi Hills about Shillong. It has been recorded 

 from Burma by Evans and myself who obtained a specimen from the 

 Pegu Yomas. I have had a specimen from Mogok, Ruby mines, and 

 a specimen from Pegu is in the British Museum. It extends into 

 Southern China and Formosa. 



Variety B, nniviraatiis. — Cherry-red, or brown with 23 to 32 black 

 bands, many of which are incomplete especially in midbody over the 

 spine. A black streak runs down the spine. Otherwise this variety 

 is like the last. It is known from the Eastern Himalayas. (Nepal and 

 the vicinity of Darjeeling.) 



Variety C, gorei.—Vax?, has no black bands and no vertebral stripe. 

 It is cherry-red above with about 30 small, black, vertebral spots. 

 Some of these are rather broader than long. Belly pale yellow with 

 irregularly-shaped, median, black ventral spots, smaller than those 

 seen in the other two forms. I received lately two specimens of this 

 new colour variety from Mr. C. Gore whose name I attach to it. Both 

 were obtained at Jeypore (Assam) at the foot of an outlier from the 

 Naga Hills. 



* A specimen I have Just seen from this locality is the first recorded from 

 the Western Himalayas. It also constitutes a distinct colour variety for which I propose 

 the name n/^Wwnier. It differs ivova iinivirgatns \n having no trace of black rings, and in 

 having a broad black continuous band along the middle of the belly. 



