ABLABES. 307 



usually with a second, very small, below ; two or three postoculars ; 

 temporals 1 +2, or 2+2 ; upper labials 8, fourth and fifth entering 

 the eye ; 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields ; 

 posterior chin-shields about half as large as the anterior. Scales 

 in 15 rows. Ventrals 173-187 ; anal undivided ; subcaudals 77- 

 80. Uniform green above, white below, the green colour extending 

 on to the ends of the ventrals. 



Total length 35 inches ; tail 8. 



Hab. Kakhyen Hills. 



371. Ablabes rappii. 



Ablabes rappii, Giinth. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 154, pi. xxvi, fig. B ; id. 



Rept. B. 1. p. 225 j Anders. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 171 ; Theob. Cat. 



p. 154. 

 Ablabe8 owenii, Giinth. P. Z. S. 1860, p. 155, pi. xxvi, fig. A. 



Kostral twice as broad as deep, just visible from above ; nostril 

 between two nasals ; suture between the internasals a little shorter 

 than that between the prsefrontals ; frontal slightly shorter than 

 its distance from the end of the snout, a little shorter than the 

 parietals ; loreal as long as deep or a little longer than deep ; one 

 praeocular ; two postoculars, only the upper in contact with the 

 parietal ; temporals 1 + 1 ; upper labials 6, third and fourth enter- 

 ing the eye ; 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin- 

 shields, which equal or a little exceed the posterior in length. 

 Scales in 15 rows. Ventrals 178-195 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 

 60-75. Brown above, with a broad dark collar and a double series 

 of transverse dark spots on the anterior part of the body; these 

 markings most distinct in the young. Lower parts uniform 

 yellowish. 



Total length 18 inches ; tail 4-5. 



Hab. Himalayas from Simla to Darjeeliug. 



372. Ablabes nicobariensis. 



Ablabes nicobariensis, Stoliczka, J.A.S.B* xxxix, 1870, p. 184, 

 pi. xi, fig. 1 5 Theob. Cat. p. 157. 



Kostral low, wide, not reaching the top of the head ; nostril 

 between two nasals ; iuternasals about half the size of the prae- 

 frontals ; frontal somewhat larger than the supraoculars ; parietals 

 about one fourth larger than the frontal, in contact with both post- 

 oculars ; loreal united with the postnasal ; one prae- and two post- 

 oculars ; temporals 1 + 2; upper labials 7, third and fourth enter- 

 ing the eye ; both pairs of chin-shields subequal in size. Scales in 

 17 rows. Ventrals 189 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 87. Anterior 

 half of the body reddish brown above, posterior blackish grey ; 

 head above blackish, the three first labials with yellow spots ; a 

 short broad yellow streak from behind and below the eye posteriorly 

 to the angle of the mouth ; a black collar, margined on both sides 

 with an interrupted yellow baud, of which the anterior is the most 



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