SNAKES. 13 



in front, not distinct from neck. Eye small. Rostral shield 

 small, grooved; anterior frontals very small; posterior ones 

 moderate, forming the upper anterior edge of orbit. Vertical 

 six-sided, not longer than broad, with an obtuse angle in front, 

 and a right one behind; lateral edges short, nearly parallel; 

 occipitals elongate; superciliary small, posterior oculai" one; 

 ante-ocular forming with the loreal a united, elongate shield, 

 pointed behind, broader in front; five upper labials, the second 

 and third coming into the orbit ; three or four temporal shields, 

 one in direct contact with the posterior ocular. Medial lower 

 labial very small ; first, second and third pair of lower labials 

 suppressed by the single, excessively large pair of chin-shields, and 

 so small and narrow as to be hardly visible ; 1 do not know 

 whether this peculiarity is only accidental in the individual. 

 Scales rather large, rounded behind, in thirteen rows; anal 

 entire. Above brown, some scales darker coloured, and forming 

 interrupted longitudinal streaks, more conspicuous on the pos- 

 terior part of body ; a similar broad band along the sides ; on each 

 side of the neck a yellowish streak, with the tendency towards 

 forming a collar ; belly brown, plates lighter edged. Length of 

 cleft of mouth f " ; length of tail -^-" ; total length 12". 



7. Brachyorrhos, Kuhl. 



Body cylindric, rather elongate ; tail moderate, tapermg ; 

 head narrow; two pairs of frontal shields, front pair much 

 smaller; rostral small; two narrow nasals surrounding the 

 nostril ; loreal none, united with the frontal ; one anterior, two 

 posterior oculars. Scales smooth, rounded behind, in seventeen 

 rows ; anal entire ; subcaudals two-rowed. Teeth equal, smooth. 

 East Indian Islands. 



Brachyorrhos, Dum. df Bibr. vii. p. 510. Brachyorrhos, sp., 

 [Kuhl) Boie, Isis, 1827, p. 519; Wugl. Syst. p. 190. Calamaria, 

 sp., Schleg. Ess. ii. p. '63. Atractus, Wagl. his, 1828, p. 741. 

 Anguis, sp., Coluber, sp., auct. prior. 



1. Brachyorrhos albus. 



Coluber albus, Linn. Mus. Ad. Fried, t. 14, f. 2 (discoloured), 

 and Syst. Nat. i. p. 378 ; Daubent. Quadr. Ovip. Serp. p. 592 ; 

 Lacep. Quadr. Ovip. Serp. ii. p. 183; Latr. Kept. iv. p. 145; 

 Daud. Rept. vii. p. 49 ; Merr. Tent. p. 94. Anguis alba, Laur. 

 Syn. p. 73. Stumpfschwanzige Natter, Merr. Beitr. ii. t. 7- 

 Coluber brachyurus, Shaw, Zoot. iii. p. 470 ; Kuhl, Beitr. ii. 

 p. 89. Brachyorrhos albus, {Kuhl) Boie, Isis, 1827, p. 519; 



