L'ROPELTIDJE. 251 



Cylindrophis rufa, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 46 ; Dum. 8f Bibr. t. c. 

 p. 595 ; Cantor, J. A. S. B. xvi, 1847, p. 900 ; Gilnth. Kept. B. I. 

 p. 179; Jan, Icon. Ophid. p. 56, 1. 9, pi. iv, figs. 1, 2; Theob. Cat. 

 p. 127. 



Diameter of the eye about half or two fifths its distance from the 

 nostril. The distance between the eyes greater than the length of 

 the snout. Frontal at least as large as the supraoculars, larger than 

 the parietals, at least as long as its distance from the rostral. Six 

 upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye. Scales in 19 or 

 21 rows. Yentrals not twice as large as the contiguous scales, 

 185-245; anal divided ; stibcaudals 5-10. Brown or black above, 

 with or without alternating light cross-bands : belly white with 

 transverse black bands or spots, or black with transverse white 

 bands ; lower surface of tail bright vermilion during life. 



Total length 2 feet 5 inches. 



Hab. Burma and Cochin China to the Malay Peninsula and 

 Archipelago. 



290. Cylindrophis maculatus. 



Anguis uiaculata, Linn. Syst. Jfat. i, p. 391 ; Russell, Ind. Serj). ii, 



p. 33, pi. xxix. 

 Cylindrophis maculata, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 46 ; Dum. 8f Bibr. Erp. 



Gen. vi, p. 597 ; Gilnth. Rept. B. I. p. 179 ; Jan, Icon. Ophid. 



p. 56, 1. 9, pi. iv, fig. 3 ; Theob. Cat. p. 127. 



Diameter of the eye one third to one fourth its distance from 

 the nostril. The distance between the eyes equals the length of 

 the snout. Frontal usually a little smaller than the supraocular 

 or parietal ; six upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye. 

 Scales in 19 or 21 rows. Yentrals not twice as large as the 

 contiguous scales, 189-201 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 4-6. Above 

 with black network enclosing two series of large reddish-brown 

 spots along the back ; lower parts white, variegated with black. 



Total length 1 foot 2 inches. 



Hab. Cevlon. 



Family V. UROPELTID.E. 



Cranial bones solidly united ; transpalatine present ; pterygoid 

 not extending to quadrate or mandible ; no supratemporal ; quad- 

 rate very small ; praefrontals forming a suture with nasals. Man- 

 dible with coronoid bone. Both jaws toothed, teeth small and few ; 

 palate toothless*. 



Head small and not distinct from neck ; eye small or very small, 

 with round pupil. Body cylindrical, rigid ; tail very short. Size 



* Peters has recorded the presence of palatine teeth in Melanophidium and 

 Platyptecfriiriis, but I fail to detect any in the British Museum specimens. 



