from the Upper Yangtsze-Kiang. 221 



gin. But It difters by having a longer tail and by its less 

 ornamented coloration. 



Scales in seventeen rows. One prgeocular, two postoculars. 

 The occipital does not touch the lower postocular ; temporals 

 1+2, the anterior in contact with both postoculars. Ventrals 

 182 ; of the tail nearly one half has been lost, the mutilated 

 part being protected by fifty-three pairs of subcaudals, so that 

 the whole number may be estimated to have been between 

 eighty and ninety. Upper parts nearly uniform brownish 

 grey, the posterior part of the trunk indistinctly showing a 

 series of whitish spots along each side of the back. No black 

 dots along the vertebral line. The black cross bands between 

 the eyes and on the neck are present as in Ahlabes Humherti 

 and Ahlahes coUca-is, but much less distinct. Abdomen white, 

 each ventral shield with a black dot on each side. 



One specimen was found by Mr. Pratt at Ichang ; its 

 trunk measures 15 inches and its tail was probably 5^ inches 

 in length. 



Tropidonotus Swinhonis, Gthr. 



A variety of this species occurs at Ichang which differs 

 from the type in having the scales more obscurely keeled, in 

 possessing only the rudiments of a collar on the side of the 

 neck, and in having the lower parts uniformly black or largely 

 marbled with black. 



Trimeresurus xanthomelas. 



The second upper labial shield forms the front part of the 

 facial pit ; upper part of the snout with three small shields 

 in front. Supraciliary scute large, not divided. Scales in 

 twenty-one rows, keeled. Ventrals 185, 189 ; subcaudals 

 59, 68 ; anal and prasanal not divided. Black, each scale 

 with an elongate greenish-yellow spot, the spot frequently 

 including small black specks. By the modification of the 

 extent of the black colour on the scales a chain of subrhombic 

 spots is formed along the vertebral line ; the yellow of the 

 scales within each rhombic spot is of a more reddish shade. 

 Upper part of the head black, with a pattern of narrow sym- 

 metrical lines ; a deep black band from the eye to the angle 

 of the mouth ; labial shields yellow, with a series of black 

 spots on the sutures. A rather indistinct row of black spots 

 along the sides of the body. Lower parts yellow, marbled 

 with black, the black colour predominating in the posterior 

 half of the length. 



Five specimens of this beautiful snake were obtained at 



