186 Mr. G. E. Mason on a new Earth- Snake, 



respect from the type. In one instance it is orange-yellow 

 above eacli scale, with a fine black margin ; a few entirely 

 black scales are scattered over the anterior and posterior 

 portions of (he trunk ; other specimens present markings such 

 as were described originally by Beddome, except that tlie 

 black scales are in series of from two to four and form irregular 

 spots distributed over the back ; and again in another example 

 the groups of spots flow into one another, thus showing a ten- 

 dency to form cross bars. The coloration of the young is 

 somewhat remarkable ; a yellowish hue is predominant, the 

 scales having a very minute black margin, each one of the cen- 

 tral dorsal series black, forming a conspicuous line which 

 extends from the head to tlie caudal disk ; the line is occasion- 

 ally interrupted by a scale wanting the black mark ; an almost 

 undistinguishable dark central spot on tlie five rows of scales 

 on each side of the dorsal series. The colour of the belly 

 differs little from the type in all my specimens, alternate jet- 

 black and irregular, broad, orange-coloured blotches or cross 

 bars always being more or less present. The ventrals vary 

 from 146 to 156. 



RhinopJds sanguineus. 



Mldnophis sangitmevs, Beddome, Pioc. Zool. Soc. 18G3, p. 227, and Ann. 



& Mag. Nat. Uitt. (-5) xvii. p. 8 ; Giinther, Kept. Brit. India, p. 186. 

 Hhinophis microlepis, Beddome, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, p. 227, cum 



icon, (young). 



I have specimens in my collection from the Wullingy 

 forests near Palghat which do not coincide with the diagnosis 

 given by Beddome and Giinther | the ventrals vary from 166 

 to 183 only and the caudal scales are somewhat prominently 

 keeled on the upper surface of the tail. It is a matter oi 

 uncertainty whctlier they should be regarded as conspecific, 

 and I have refrained from doing so until I can characterize 

 them more fully. 



Melanoi^liidium jyunctatum. 



Melanophidium punctatiim, Beddome, Madr. Journ. Med. Science, Dec. 

 1871. 



In addition to the remarkable changes of the horny terminal 

 scute of the tail noticed by Beddome (/. c.) and by Giinther 

 in the ' Proceedings of the Zoological Society,' 1870, p. 2.>0, 

 I have observed it furnished with three well-marked parallel 

 ridges above, each terminating in a spine, side by side, the 

 central one being of far greater length and the ridge more 

 acute. The specimens, which were collected at Peermaad, 

 North I'ravancore, 4000 feet elevation, are of unusually large 

 size, adults being 28-i- inches long, with a girth of '2\ inches. 



