.4 POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 27 



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Lepidosis Rostral. — Touches 6 shields ; the rcstro-nasal sutures 

 largest about twice the rostro-internasal. Intemasals. — A pair ; 

 the suture between them half or less than half that between the 

 prefrontal fellows, about two-thirds the internaso-prsefrontal 

 sutures. Prefrontals. — A pair; the suture between them rather 

 greater than the prsefronto-frontal ; in contact with internasal, 

 postnasal, loreal, prasocular, and sometimes with the supraocular. 

 Irontal. — Touches 6 shields usually, 8 when the praeooular 

 meets it ; the fronto-supraocular sutures largest. Supraoculars. — 

 As long as frontal, but not so broad in a line connecting the 

 centres of the eyes. Nasals. — Two, almost entirely separated by 

 the nostril, a suture running to the 1st supralabial. Loreals. — One 

 rather longer than deep. Prceoculars. — One. Postoculars .- — Two. 

 Temporals. — Two, the upper touching a supralabial xisually, the 6th 

 or 7th. Supralabials.- — Very variable, 9, 10 or 11; usually two touch 

 the eye, the 5th and 6th most constantly, sometimes the 6th and 

 7th, or in some examples three touch the eye. Infralabials. — 6. 

 The 5th and 6th touch the posterior sublinguals ; the 6th is the 

 longest and in contact with three scales behind. Sublinguals. — 

 Two pairs, subequal or the anterior rather longer. Gostals. — Subject 

 to much variation. In midbody they may be 25 to 29. Anteriorly 



