308 COLUBEIDJ:. 



distinct ; an indistinct series of blackish-grey dorsal spots, almost 

 forming a dark undulating baud ; sides marbled and freckled black- 

 ish grey, this colour being separated from the upper brown one by 

 a series of closely set black spots which are partially conspicuous 

 on the posterior part of the body ; chin dusky ; lo\ver parts yellow 

 with a vermilion tinge, each ventral with a large black spot near 

 its outer extremity. (Stoliczka.) 



Total length lf'5 inches ; tail 4-25. 



Hal. Camorta, Nicobars. 



373. Ablabes porphyraceus. 



Coluber pornliyraceus, Cantor, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 51 ; G'unth. Kept. E. 

 I. p. 239, pi. xx, fig. J ; Anders. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 172 ; T/ieob. Cat. 

 p. 163; Anders. An. Zuol. Res. Yunnan, p. 812; Hitbrecht, Mid- 

 den-Sumatra, Kept. pi. , fig. 1. 



Psarnniophis nigrofasciatus, Cantor, 1. c. p. 53. 



Coronella calliceplialus, Gray, A. M. N. H. (2) xii, 1853. p. 3UO ; 

 Slyth, J. A. S. B. xxiii, 1855, p. 289. 



fSuout more than twice as long as the eye, which is rather small ; 

 rostral nearly twice as broad as deep, visible from above ; nostril 

 between two nasals ; suture between the interuasals shorter than 

 that between the pnufroutals ; frontal broad, as long as or a little 

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

 the parietals ; loreal rather small, longer than deep ; a large pra?- 

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

 porals 1 + 2 ; upper labials 8, fourth and fifth entering the eye; 

 4 or 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which 

 are longer than the posterior. Scales in 19 rows. A'entrals 192- 

 215 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 52-76. Pale reddish brown above, 

 with dark brown black-edged cross-bands ; a black streak along the 

 middle of the head, and another on each side, from the eye to the 

 first transverse band ; posterior part of body and tail with two 

 longitudinal black lines, in addition to the cross-bands ; lower parts 

 uniform yellow. 



Total length 30 inohe* ; tail 5- 5. 



Hob. Easter n Himalayas, hills of Assam, Northern Burma, Yun- 

 nan, Sumatra. 



Genus CORONELLA, 

 Laurenti, Syn. Kept. p. 84, 17GS. 



Maxillary teeth 12 to 16, increasing in size posteriorly; mandi- 

 bular teeth subequal. Head short, scarcely distinct from neck ; eye 

 rather small, with round pupil ; head-shields normal. Body cylin- 

 drical ; scales smooth, in 19 to 25 rows, with apical pits ; ventrals 

 rounded ; tail moderate; subcaudals in two rows. 



This genus is distributed over Europe, Western Asia, Africa, 

 and America. One Indian species is referred to it. The Coronelhe 

 are fierce snakes of terrestrial habits, feeding on lizards and snakes. 



