30 Col. R. H. Beddome on the 



Melanophidmm iv^naudense. 



Plednirm loxjnmulensis, Bedd. Proc. Zool. Soc. June 9, 1863 {wynan- 



densis by misprint). 

 Melanophidium ivynmulense, Giinther, /. c. p. 194. 



Snout obtuse. ; rostral rather small, simplj convex, as high 

 as broad ; nasals forming a suture beliind the rostral ; vertical 

 hexagonal, longer than broad, pointed in front and behind ; 

 occipitals rather longer than vertical ; caudal scales all quite 

 smooth, terminal scute small, ending in a single point, or 

 flattened above and square at the sides and ending in an 

 upturned ridge. Scales round the centre of the body in 15 

 rows ; ventrals nearly three times as broad as the scales of 

 the adjoining series, 176 to 185 without reference to sex ; 

 subcaudals, 10 to 12 pairs in the females, 15 pairs in the 

 males. Length of adults about 15-17 inches, girth about 1^- 

 If inch. Colour black, but most beautifully iridescent ; 

 generally some broad yellowish or whitish blotches on the belly, 

 which are larger and more numerous towards the tail ; but 

 these are sometimes absent, and the whole snake is uniform 

 black ; tail uniform black. 



Hah. The Wynad (Malabar), 3000 to 3500 feet elevation, 

 very rai'e. Six only have been found, with ventrals and sub- 

 caudals as follows : — 



( 10 subcaudals and 185 ventrals. 

 4 females -I J i " " \l\ " 



112 

 (12 



2 males j ^^ ^^ ^^ -^^g ^^ 



Melanophidium hilineatum. 



Melano2)hidiu7n bilineatum, Hedd. Madr. Journ.Med. Science, Sept. 1870. 



Snout obtuse ; rostral rather small, broader than high ; 

 nasals smaller than the frontals ; vertical hexagonal, pointed 

 in front and behind ; occipitals very elongate, much longer 

 than vertical ; eye very small, well within the margin of the 

 ocular shield ; caudal scales quite smooth, the terminal scute 

 scarcely larger than one caudal scale, ending in a single 

 point. Scales round the body in 15 series ; ventrals three 

 times as broad as the scales of the adjoining series, 184 to 200 ; 

 anal large, bifid ; subcaudals 15 to 17 pairs. Length up to 

 about 14 inches; girth about |- of an inch. Colour of the 

 belly and back uniform bluish black, very iridescent ; a broad 

 yellow streak from the snout to the tail on each side, which 

 occupies the whole of the second row of scales from the ven- 



