SIMOTES. 311 



the anterior chin-shields ; posterior chin-shields about two thirds the 

 length of the anterior. Scales in 21 rows. Ventrals 193 ; anal 

 undivided ; subcaudals 41. Cream-colour, with sixteen large 

 brown black-edged spots above, longer than the interspaces between 

 them ; these spots indented in front and behind, and with at least 

 a trace of a yellowish median line ; the anterior spot is produced 

 angularly to the posterior border of the frontal ; the rest of the 

 upper surface of the head speckled with dark brown : tail with a 

 yellow vertebral line ; an irregular series of small blackish spots 

 along each abdominal edge, the lower surface being otherwise 

 immaculate. 



Total length 22 inches ; tail 2-5. 



Hal). "Wynaad. A single specimen is known. 



376. Simotes cyclurus. 



Coronella cyclura, Cantor, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 50. 



Simotes bicatenatus, Giinth. Kept. B. I. p. 217 ; Theob. Joum. Linn. 



Soc. x, 1868, p. 40 ; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xl, 1871, p. 430 ; Anders. 



P. Z. S. 1871, p. 170 ; Theob. Cat. p. 152. 

 Simotes fasciolatus, Gilnth. 1. c. p. 218, pi. xx, fig. B. 

 . Simotes cochinchinensis, Giinth. I. c. p. 219, pi. xx, fig. C. 

 ? Simotes obscurus, Theob. Cat. Rept. As. Soc. Mm. 1868, p. 48. 

 ? Simotes crassus, Theob. 1. c. p. 48. 



Nasal divided ; portion of rostral seen from above nearly as long 

 as its distance from the frontal ; suture between the internasals 

 shorter than that between the prasfrontals ; frontal as long as 

 its distance from the end of the snout or a little shorter, and as 

 long as the parietals ; loreal as long as deep, or a little deeper than 

 long ; prseocular single, usually with a small subocular below, be- 

 tween the third and fourth labials ; two postoculars ; temporals 

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

 4, rarely 3, lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields ; 

 posterior chin-shields one half or two thirds the length of the an- 

 terior. Scales in 19 or 21 rows. Ventrals 156-210, angulate 

 laterally ; anal undivided ; subcaudals 38-48. Pale brown or grey- 

 ish above, usually with four darker brown longitudinal bands, the 

 median pair separated by the vertebral series of scales ; antero- 

 lateral border of some of the scales frequently black ; markings on 

 the head as in S. albocinctus ; lower surface yellowish, sometimes 

 uniform, usually with squarish brown spots on each side below the 

 angle of the ventrals ; these blotches may be subconfluent or form 

 two chain-like series ; subcaudals unspotted or with a few small 

 scattered dots. 



Total length 28 inches ; tail 4. 



Hub. Bengal and Assam, to the foot of the Himalayas ; Burma 

 to the Kakhyen Hills and Tenasserim, Siam, Cochin China, and 

 Southern China. 



