32 HALYS HIMALAYANUS. 
series of three large temporal shields, the two hinder of which form a 
portion of the lip; the space between these temporals and the occipital 
is covered with small scales. Body of moderate length, rounded ; its 
middle is covered with twenty-three series of strongly keeled scales, 
Ventrals 162-166; anal entire; sub-caudals 43-51. The tail termi- 
nates in a long spine. Dark brown, with large band-like spots across 
the back; these spots are very indistinct, scarcely differing from the 
ground colour, and becoming visible only by their black edges ; belly 
almost entirely black, marbled with yellowish. A broad blackish brown 
band runs from the eye along the series of temporal shields to the angle 
of the mouth; it has a narrow black and white edge above and below, 
and is better defined in the young individual than in the old one. 
Lower labials marbled with yellowish and blackish.” 
Dr. Stoliczka says—‘ Especially between 5000 and 8000 feet, but 
on the Hatu Mountain near Kotegurh, and about Serahan, I observed it 
as high as 10,000 feet. It feeds principally on mice... . . The upper 
ground colour of this snake varies from brownish-green to almost 
brownish-black, but generally with some lighter spots, bands or 
marblings, and that of the lower part is of a greenish-yellow purple 
tinge, the purplish colour sometimes predominating, especially on the 
sub-caudals ; the whole of the lower side is more or less strongly marbled 
with greenish black ; rarely is the under side nearly all black, but the 
chin is always yellowish. The upper labials are yellowish white, and in 
continuation of this colour, there is in younger specimens a very 
conspicuous whitish lateral band occupying the base of the ventrals, and 
the adjoining row of scales. In old specimens this lateral band is only 
indicated on the throat, becoming obsolete on the body... . . All the 
specimens which | examined had only twenty-one series of scales. One 
nearly full grown, from the neighbourhood of Kotegurh (north-east of 
Simla) measures twenty-five inches and a quarter, of which the tail is 
three and a quarter, terminating with a very small single sub-caudal 
scale. Ventrals 160; sub-caudals 42.” It is “very common over the 
north-west Himalayas.” (Fayrer.) It is “met with on the paths 
generally after rains, and in shady places between overhanging forest 
trees.” (Stoliczka.) 
