552 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVI 11. 



the ventrals fuses with either the 3rd or the 5th. At the third step 

 from 17 to 15 the uppermost lateral row is absorbed into the verte- 

 bral, and again a sudden enlargement in the vertebral row results. 

 Steps one and two are occasionally reversed. The vertebral row is 

 enlarged throughout, but anterior to the first absorption the shield 

 are but slightly enlarged whereas later they are relatively much 

 broader. This enlargement ceases above the vent where the rows of 

 scales reduce, and become redisposed, even numbers of rows replac- 

 ing the odd number seen in the body. This arrangement is in strong 

 contrast to that seen in the Kra its [Bungarus) where the vertebral 

 row also enlarged is continued as such along the whole of the tail. 

 The last three rows above the ventrals are all enlarged, the ultimate 

 most so. This is a peculiarity I have only seen in members of this 

 genus. The outline of the transverse series of scales is as a result 

 characteristic as shown by the thick lines in figure 2A. Keels are 

 absent everywhere, but each scale bears a single apical pit. Where 

 the vertebral row is but feebly enlarged, a single pit is in evidence, 

 but where through absorption it becomes broad, two or rarely three 

 pits may be seen. Ventrals 206 to 238, rounded, and reflected un- 

 usually high in the flanks, to about one-third the body depth. Anal 

 entire. Svbcaudals 75 to 96 divided. 

 Explanation of abbreviations used in lepidosis, Jig. 1, Diagram II, 



I I >. trigonal as). 



A. S. Anterior sublingual. 



F. Frontal. 



Int. Internasal. 



L Loreal. 



M. Mental. 



N. Nasal. 



Pa. Parietals. 



Po. Postocular. 



Prf. Prefrontal. 



H. Rostral. 



S. Supraocular. 



T. Temporal. 



V. Ventrals. 



L to (S. Supralabials. 



[to VII. fnfralabials. 



