TROPIDONOTUS. 351 



Eye rather small, its diameter a little less than its distance from 

 the end of the snout ; rostral visible from above, forming a narrow 

 suture with the internasals, which are much narrowed anteriorly 

 and nearly as long as the prasfrontals ; frontal longer than its 

 distance from the end of the snout, nearly as long as the parietals ; 

 loreal as long as deep ; one prseocular : two or three postoculars ; 

 temporals 2 + 2 or 2 + 3; 9 (exceptionally 10) upper labials, fourth 

 and fifth (or fifth and sixth) entering the eye; 5 lower labials in 

 contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are shorter than the 

 posterior. Scales in 17 rows, smooth or faintly keeled. Ventrals 

 142-154 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 62-83. Brown or black above, 

 with small pale markings or dots ; two outer rows of scales, the 

 ventrals and subcaudals yellowish with dark margins ; upper lip 

 uniform yellowish ; frequently a light, curved longitudinal streak 

 on each side of the nape. 



Total length 2 feet ; tail 6 inches. 



Hob. Pegu. 



439. Tropidonotus plumbicolor. 



Tropidouotus plumbicolor, Cantor, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 54 ; G'unth. Rept. 



E. I. p. 272 ; id. Zool. Rec. 1865, p. 154 ; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. 



xl, 1871, pt. 2, p. 438 ; Anders. P. Z. S. 1871, p. 176 ; Theob. Cat. 



p. 179 ; Murray, Zool. Sind, p. 380. 

 Xenodon viridis, Dum. Sf Bibr. Erp. Gen. vii, p. 763. 

 Trigonocephalus ellioti, Jerdon, J. A. S. B. xxii, 1854, p. 523. 

 Amphiesnia bracliyurum, Jan, Elenco, p. 73; id. Arch. Zool. Anat. 



Phys. iii, 1865, p. 237, and Icon. Oplnd. 29, pi. iii, fig. 2. 

 Halys elliotti, Theob. Cat. p. 225. 



Habit stout, viperine. Eye moderate ; rostral just visible from 

 above ; suture between the internasals as long as that between 

 the praefrontals or a little shorter ; frontal as long as its distance 

 from the end of the snout or a little longer, as long as the parietals 

 or a little shorter ; loreal as long as deep or deeper, sometimes 

 entering the eye ; two praeoculars, three or four postoculars ; 

 temporals 2 + 3 or 4; upper labials 7, third and fourth entering 

 the eye ; 4 or 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin- 

 shields, which are shorter than the posterior. Scales strongly 

 keeled, in 23 to 27 rows. Ventrals 144-160 ; anal usually divided; 

 subcaudals 35-50. Dull green above, uniform or with traces of 

 black markings ; young with a large chevron-shaped black mark on 

 the nape and occiput, the point on the frontal shield bordered 

 posteriorly with bright yellow ; a black band from the eye to the 

 angle of the mouth, and more or less regular transverse black spots 

 or bands on the body ; belly blackish, or yellowish with or without 

 brown spots. 



Total length 2| feet ; tail 3-5 inches. 



Hob. India; not uncommon in the Madras and Bombay 

 Presidencies and Ceylon. A large specimen was obtained, at an 

 altitude of 4700 feet, in the Anaimalai Hills by Mr. W. Davison. 



