304 COLUBBID-i:. 



or fourth and fifth entering the eye ; 4 lower labials in contact 

 with the anterior chin-shields, which are about as large as the 

 posterior. Scales in 17 rows. Ventrals 205-228; anal divided: 

 subcaudals 56-70. Yellowish or pale brown above ; sides brown 

 or grey, separated from the pale dorsal region by a black line ; a 

 vertebral series of minute black dots ; head and nape dark brown 

 or black, forehead marbled with yellow, and with a large elongate 

 oval patch of yellow on each side of the back of the head ; the 

 black nuchal spot more or less distinctly bordered with yellow 

 behind. Lower surfaces yellow, with a black dot at the outer 

 extremity of each ventral. 



Total length 11 inches; tail 2-3. 



Hob. Tirhoot in Bengal, Assam, Piuang (also Kaiigra, West 

 Himalayas, according to Schlagintweit). 



366. Polyodontophis bistrigatus. 



Ablabes bistrigatus, Gilnth.A. M. N. H. (4) i, 1868, p. 417 ; Theob. 

 Cat. p. 155 ; Anders. An. Zool. Res. Yunnan, Kept. p. 811. 



Jiostral not twice as broad as long, the portion visible from above 

 measuring two fifths its distance from the frontal ; suture between 

 the internasals shorter than that between the prsefrontals ; frontal 

 longer than its distance from the end of the snout, shorter than 

 the parietals ; loreal as long as deep or longer than deep ; one prae- 

 ocular ; two postoculars, both in contact with the parietal ; tem- 

 porals 1 (or 2) +2; 10 upper labials, fourth, fifth, and sixth 

 entering the eye ; eighth upper labial usually excluded from the 

 labial margin, assuming the position of a lower anterior temporal ; 

 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are 

 as long as the posterior. Scales in 17 rows. Ventrals 184-186 ; 

 anal divided; subcaudals 73-75. Back ruddy brown, with a 

 vertebral series of black dots ; head and nape black, emitting a 

 black band running on each side of the body and tail ; a yellow 

 band on each side of the head, sending off a hook on each supra- 

 ciliary shield, and a pair of yellow spots on the nape. Lower 

 surfaces uniform yellow. 



Total length 12 inches ; tail 3-25. 



Hob. Burma (Pegu and Prome). 



Genus ABLABES *, 

 Dum. & Bibr. Erp. G<5n. vii, p. 304 (part.), 1854. 



Maxillary teeth small, equal, 15 to 30 ; mandibular teeth sub- 

 equal. Head short, not or scarcely distinct from neck ; eye rather 

 small or moderate, with round pupil ; head-shields usually normal. 

 Body cylindrical ; scales smooth (or very feebly keeled), in 13 to 



* Coronella baliodira, Schleg., is taken as the type of the genus as here re- 

 stricted. 



