93. OLIGODON. 243 
from the end of the snout, as long as the parietals ; loreal as long 
as deep ; preocular single; two postoculars ; temporals 1+2 
seven upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye; three lower 
labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields; posterior chin- 
shields about two thirds the length of the anterior. Scales in 
15 rows. Ventrals 152; anal divided; subcaudals 29, Brown 
above, with a median series of large rhombic black spots, on each 
side of which is a small spot separated by a whitish border; head 
with black markings, viz. an angular band across the forehead, 
passing through the eyes, and a second behind, with the apex on 
the frontal, descending to below the angle of the mouth, and con- 
fluent with a large nuchal spot; an angular interrupted, narrow 
black band across the throat ; lower surfaces whitish, unspotted. 
Total length 270 millim. ; ; tail 30. 
Madras Presidency. 
a. 9 (V. 152; C. 29). Madras Pres. Sir W. Elliot [P.]. (Type.) 
15. Oligodon subgriseus. 
Oligodon subgriseus, Dum. § Bibr. vii. p. 59 (1854); Giinth. Cat. 
p- 21 (1858); Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat. Phys. ii. 1862, p. 39; 
Giinth. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 207, pl. xix. fig. F (1864); Jan, Icon. 
Gén. 48, pl. i. fig. 3 (1876) ; Blanf. Journ, As, Soc. Beng. xiiii. 
1879, p. 114; Bouleng. Faun. Ind., Rept. p. 321 (1890); W. L. 
Sclater, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. \x. 1891, Pp: By. 
Simotes binotatus, Dum. §& Bibr. t. c. p. 6380; Jan, ll. cc. Icon. 11, 
pl. vi. fig. 3 (1865) ; Giinth. Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 214. 
Xenodon dubium, Jerdon, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxii, 1853, p. 528 
(1854). 
Oligodon spilonotus, Giinth. 1. c. p. 207, pl. xix. fig. E. 
fasciatus, Giinth. 1. c. p. 208, pl. xix, fig. D. 
Nasal divided ; portion of rostral seen from above as long as, or 
a little shorter than, its distance from the frontal ; suture between 
the internasals usually shorter than that between the prefrontals ; 
frontal longer than its distance from the end of snout, as long as 
the parietals ; loreal about as long as deep; preocular single; two 
postoculars ; temporals 1+ 2; seven upper labials, third and fourth 
entering the eye; three or four lower labials in contact with the 
anterior chin-shields; posterior chin-shields one half to two thirds 
the length of the anterior. Scales in 15 rows. Ventrals angulate 
laterally, 158-218; anal usually divided; subcaudals 38-56. 
Brown above, with a series of large rhomboidal dark spots or trans- 
verse bands, or pairs of spots, with or without a more or less 
distinct light vert bral line ; head with dark markings, usually 
consisting of a c:escentic band across the forehead, through the 
eyes, to the fourth and fifth labials, a band, widening posteriorly, 
fiom the parietals or from the frontal to the angle of the mouth, 
and a large spot, bifid posteriorly, from the frontal to the nape; 
the upper surface of the head sometimes almost entirely blackish 
R2 
