Capt. R. H. Beddome on new Uropeltide. 179 
scarcely any difference in the shields of the head, though the head 
of Stlybura brevis is broader. 
5. StryspurA Beppomit, Giinther. 
I have lately procured numerous specimens of this Snake on the 
Shevaroys, elevation 4500 feet. I have also found it in the Mudu- 
mallay Forest, elevation 3000 feet. The spots on the scales are 
yellow, turning white in spirits. 
Note.—Silybure brevis, nilgherriensis, Shortii, and macrolepis (a 
Ceylonese species) have a well-defined head, with broad snout and a 
large eye. Silybure Ellioti, Beddomii, and ocellata have a pointed 
snout and a small eye (as in the genus Rhinophis). 
6. RHINOPHIS SANGUINEUS. 
Scales of the body large, in 15 rows; of the anterior portion of 
the trunk sometimes in 17; rostral much produced, very sharp, 
conical, horny, produced back, and covering the conjunction of the 
nasals; nostril in front of nasal shield; eye very small and obscure, 
in front of ocular shield ; four upper labials, 1st small, 2nd, 3rd, and 
4th large; caudal disk nearly as long as tail, oblong, covered with 
excrescences, a red streak down the centre and one on each side. 
Colour of the body bluish black ; belly bright red, with blackish 
mottlings ; anal bifid; subcaudals of the male 9 or 10 pairs, each 
with 4 to 6 keels, and some of the approximated ventral plates and 
a few of the two lowest rows of scales also keeled; female subcau- 
dals6 or7. Total length of large male 13 inches, female 10 inches ; 
circumference 1 inch; abdominals 195. 
The brilliant red colour of the abdomen fades in spirits. 
I procured numerous specimens of this species at Cherambody in 
the Wynand (Malabar), elevation 3500 feet ; they were all dug up in 
one spot. I have not met with it elsewhere. 
7. RHINOPHIS MICROLEPIS. 
Scales of the body small, in 15 rows ; of the anterior portion of the 
trunk in 17, of the neck in 19. Caudal disk oblong, orbicular, one- 
half the length of the tail, covered with excrescences, which are con- 
fluent into streaks ; subcaudals 10; anal bifid; head-plates as in R. 
sanguineus, but rostral less sharp. Colour of the body greyish black, 
with indistinct dull yellowish white mottlings ; belly yellowish white, 
with dark mottlings ; tail beneath yellowish, with a broad black 
spot. Abdominals very small, 199. Total length 6 inches; cir- 
cumference 63 lines. 
I procured this (a solitary specimen) in the Wynand, elevation 
3500 feet. 
Genus PLECTRURUS. 
* Hye rather large, with a supraorbital shield. 
8. Piecrrurus Perrorrteti, Gray, P. Z. 8. 1858, p. 265. 
This is most abundant on the tops of the Nilgherries, 7000 to 
8000 feet ; it is dug up in gardens, and found under the turf and 
12* 
