180 Zoological Society : — 



under stones. My largest specimen is 14 inches long; it rarely, 

 however, attains that size. 



9. Plectrurus Guentheri. 



Scales of the neck in 1 7 rows ; anterior portion of the trunk in 1 3 

 rows, of the rest of the hody in 1.5 rows ; head-shields as in P. Per- 

 rotteti, only the rostral is not produced so far back. All the scales of 

 the tail 5-G-keeled, and some of the approximated scales of the body 

 also keeled ; terminal scale of the tail with four sharp points, and 

 covered with small tubercles ; abdominals 1 72, and a bifid anal ; 

 subcaudals 12. Total length 13 inches, circumference If inch. Co- 

 lour of the body a bright reddish purple ; belly yellow, the yellow 

 colour rising up on the sides of the trunk into regular pyramid- 

 shaped markings, and the purple colour descending in the same way 

 down to the abdominals. 



I procured this very fine species in the moist forests at Walaghat, 

 on the western slopes of the Nilgherries (3500 feet elevation). I 

 have great pleasure in naming it after Dr. Giinther. 



** Eye small, no supraorbital shield. 



10. Plectrurus wynandensis. 



Scales round the body 15, round the neck 16 or 17; rostral 

 scarcely produced back between the nasals ; no supraorbital ; muzzle 

 more obtuse than in P. Perrotteti ; eye small ; subcaudals 1 1 pairs ; 

 anal large, bifid ; tail compressed ; scales smooth, terminal spinose, 

 tail ending in a single horny point. Colour bluish black, with 

 broad white blotches on the belly, which become larger and more 

 numerous towards the tail ; tail uniform bluish black. 



Wynand, elevation 3500 feet. 



11. Plectrurus puLNEYENSis. 



Rostral rather obtuse, produced back between the nasals, and 

 touching the frontals, nasals not meeting ; eye small, in front of the 

 ocular shield ; no supraorbitals ; vertical 6-sided ; occipitals rounded 

 behind ; 4 upper labials. Scales round the neck 19, round the 

 body 17 ; subcaudals, male, about 12, female 6-8. Tail compressed, 

 ending in a small spinose keel, more or less bicuspid. Scales of the 

 tail all smooth. Colour uniform earthy brown ; a lateral bright yel- 

 low streak from the labials continued on each side of the trunk, about 

 1 inch or 1^ inch in length; a few minute yellow specks on the 

 back ; belly with broad bright yellow transverse bands, very irregular 

 as to number and shape ; yellow markings about the vent and tail. 



Very abundant on the Pulney Hills, 7000 to 8000 feet, where it 

 takes the place of P. Perrotteti of the Nilgherries ; in habits, &c. 

 exactly the same as P. Perrotteti. 



The very brilliant yellow fades in spirits. 



These last two species differ from the typical form of this genus 

 in their much smaller size and in the absence of a supraorbital 

 shield. As, however, they have the same compressed tail, I prefer 

 keeping them in this genus to making a new genus for them. 



