168 



P H I D I A. 



loped posteriorly than anteriorly, the fourth and fifth entering into the 

 orbit ; the sixth and seventh are the largest of the series. There are 

 likewise eight inferior labials ; the first one meeting its fellow of the 

 opposite side, thus inclosing a small subtriangular symphyseal ; the 

 second is the smallest; the fifth the largest; the fourth and sixth being 

 nearly equal. Two pairs of mental shields, the anterior pair largest, 

 are separated from the abdominal scutellae by two pairs of large and 

 broad scales. 



The body is subcylindrical, somewhat deeper than broad, convex 

 above, and flattened beneath. The dorsal scales are perfectly smooth, 

 and disposed upon seventeen longitudinal series, smallest and narrow- 

 est along the middle region of the back, and subrhomboid in shape, 

 whilst they are broad and subtrapezoid on the sides. The abdomi- 

 nal scutellae are one hundred and sixty in number, the preanal being 

 undivided, like the rest. The subcaudal scutellae are subdivided, dis- 

 posed upon a double series of forty-five in each. The tail is subconical, 

 tapering into an acute point, and forming nearly the sixth of the total 

 length of the specimen before us. 



The ground color, as observed upon specimens preserved in alcohol, 

 is of a greyish or brownish-red. There are seventeen blotches of a 

 greyish hue, margined with black, and encircled with a white fillet, 

 extending along the dorsal region; they are transversely subelliptical, 

 broadest upon the medial line of the back, where they generally cover 

 five scales; laterally, they do not extend over the two outermost rows 

 of scales, whilst along the tail they reach the scutellae. A few isola- 

 ted, very small spqjts, exist along the sides on the intervals between 

 the blotches. An anchor-shaped blotch may be observed upon the 

 head and neck ; its curved branch is placed across the snout, passes 

 over the anterior portion of the orbit and eye, extending to the jaw, 

 whilst the main branch increases in width towards the neck, where it 

 bifurcates, sending off a branch to either side of the neck. An isolated 

 temporal vitta, of a deep-brown hue, may likewise be observed. The 

 inferior region is whitish, unicolor, the extremities of the scutellae 

 alone being dotted with red. 



Loc. A specimen of this species was collected at Manilla. 



