PLATURUS FISCHERI. 
Giinther describes this species as follows :— 
“No azygos shield between the posterior frontals, scales of the front 
part of the trunk in nineteen longitudinal series ; ventral shields 232- . 
241. Trunk surrounded by from thirty-three to thirty-six black rings, 
which are broader than the interspaces. A black band crosses the 
occiput and extends forward over the vertical plate and over the lower 
jaw, but, generally, it is not confluent with the next following ring. 
The upper part of the snout yellow; upper labialis black.” 
Dr. John Anderson, the distinguished Director of the Indian Museum, 
Calcutta, furnished Sir Joseph Fayrer with the following description of 
what he considered to be a specimen of P. Fischert in the Museum :— 
‘‘The specimen which I provisionally refer to this species has nineteen 
rows of smooth scales round the fore part of the trunk, in longitudinal 
series, and 235 ventrals. There is no azygos shield between the posterior 
frontals, and in all of these characters it agrees with this species. But 
on comparing the head with Giinther’s drawing, I find that the anterior 
frontals in my specimen differ from it, in being long and _ pointed 
anteriorly, and considerably larger than the posterior pair, and in the 
vertical being proportionally larger than in P. Fischeri, and the 
occipitals larger and more pointed. It has one pree-, and two post-oculars, 
and the third and fourth labials are below the eye. Two pairs of large 
chin-shields, the posterior shields with a large scale between their 
posterior extremities. It also differs from P. Fischeri in having fifty-six 
black rings round the trunk instead of thirty-six, but Ido not attach 
much importance to this, as P. scutatus shows about an equal varia- 
tion; but at the same time, Giinther’s statement that his eight 
