POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 19 



i or little less than J the breadth of the ventrals. Keels present 

 in the median dorsal rows, but very obtuse. Ventrals — Narrow, 

 189 to 210. Anal — Trifid, the median part largest. Subcaudals — 25 

 to 36, mostly entire, but many often divided. 



Dentition. — In my single skull which is from a Trichinopoly 

 specimen the teeth are as follows: — Maxillary — 11, gradually de- 

 creasing from before backwards. Palatine — 4, decreasing from 

 before backwards ; about as large as the maxillary. Pterygoid — 3, 

 subequal, well developed and about as large as the posterior 

 maxillary. Mandibular — 13, decreasing from before backwards. 



