Oriental BejitiJes and DatracMans. 281 



longer internasals, longer loreal, and very strongly keeled 

 scales, as well as in coloration. 



I am compelled to propose a new specific name for this 

 snake, the name Coluber carinatus being preoccupied. 



Tropidonotus nuchalis. 



Head as in T. natrix. Eye moderate. Rostral broader 

 than deep, just visible from above ; internasals as long as 

 broad or a little broader, as long as the preef rontals ; frontal 

 once and one third to once and a half as long as broad, as 

 long as or longer than its distance from the end of the snout, 

 a little shorter than the parietal s ; loreal as long as deep or 

 deeper than long ; one pra3- and two or three postoculars ; tem- 

 porals 1 + 1 or 1 + 2 ; six upper labials, third and fourth entering 

 the eye, fifth very long ; four lower labials in contact with 

 the anterior chin-shields, which are shorter than the posterior. 

 Scales feebly keeled, of outer row smooth, in fifteen rows. A 

 very distinct groove along the middle of the nape. Ventrals 

 154-165 ; anal divided ; subcaudals 46-50. Olive above, 

 uniform or with small black spots ; an oblique black line 

 below the eye and another between the last two labials ; lower 

 parts uniform black, or black in the middle and olive on the 

 sides. 



Total length 640 millim. ; tail 120. 



China. Four specimens were obtained at Ichang by 

 Mr. Pratt. 



This snake is closely allied to T. Swinhonis^ Gthr., from 

 Formosa, of which it has been regarded as a variety by 

 Giinther. It ditfers in the shorter head, the nuchal groove, 

 and the feebly keeled scales. 



Tropidonotus asiJerrimus. 



This name is proposed for a very common Ceylonese snake 

 which has hitherto been regarded as a variety of T. piscator^ 

 Schn, [quincunciatus, Schleg.). It differs constantly from 

 its Indian and Malay ally in having the scales much more 

 strongly keeled, the keels forming sharp, strongly raised lines 

 along the hinder part of the body and on the tail j only the 

 outer row of scales is smooth. Ventrals 131-146 ; subcaudals 

 64-90. Anterior half of body pale olive or reddish, with two 

 series of alternating large roundish or rhomboidal, dark olive 

 or brown, black-edged spots, which are partly confluent on 

 the vertebral line, and sometimes form a sinuous band ; pos- 

 terior part of body uniform dark olive or olive with blackish 



