198 MAJOR F. WALL, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S. 
DISTIRA GRACILIS (Shaw). 
“Tatta pam,” Russell, Ind. Serp., 1801, i, pl. xliv(?) and vol. ii, pl. xiii. 
Hydrus gracilis, Shaw, Zool., 1802, iti, p. 560. 
Anguis mamillaris, Daudin, Rept., 1803, vii, p. 340. 
Microcephalophis gracilis, Gray, Cat., 1849, p. 46. 
Liopala gracilis, Gray in Zool. Misc., 1842, p. 60. 
? Hydrophis gracilis, Schlegel, Phys. Serp., 1837, pl. xviii, figs. 6 and 7. 
Gunther, Rept. Brit. Ind., 1864, p. 373. 
P Murray, Vert. Zool. Sind, 1884, p. 395. 
Boulgr.in Blanford, Fauna Brit. Ind. Rept. and Batrach., 1890, 
p. 404, and fig., p. 308. 
Sclater, List Snakes Ind. Mus., 1891, p. 64. 
Wall in Mem. As. Soc. Bengal, 1906, p. 283, and in Spol. 
”) ” 
Zeylan., Augt. 1907, p. 167. 
? a microcephala, Jan, Icon. Gén., 1872, 41, pl. v, fig. 2. 
? * guentheri, Wurray, loc. cit., p. 396, and plate (non Theobald). 
Fig. 10.-~Distiva gracilis (x 4). 
I have examined 32 of this common, and very well differentiated species. 
I do not concur with Mr. Boulenger’s view concerning plate xliv in Russell’s 
first volume, which I think clearly represents this species. Mr. Boulenger seeks to 
make this the type of his mamullaris (see Catalogue, vol. 111, p. 277). I only know two 
species, in which the portion of the rostral visible above ever equals the length of 
the internasal suture as shown in this plate, viz., gracilis (Shaw), and cantoris (Giinther). 
It seems probable that the large anterior and posterior temporal shields shown inthe 
same plate are single though this point is not quite certain. The relative proportions 
of depth in the neck and body are not apparent owing to the dorsal aspect of the 
snake being shown 7n foto. The breadth, and number of the bands, their vertebral 
dilation, and the juxtaposed character of the scales mentioned in the letterpress, are 
as typical of gracilis (Shaw) as mamillaris (Boulenger), but the condition of the rostral 
and the anterior temporal, followed by a larger posterior shield, are so typical of gracilis 
(Shaw) that I cannot escape the conviction that it is this snake which is represented. 
