416 Dr. A. Giinther on new Sj^ecies of Snakes 



GeopMs hicohr. 



Head rather broad, short, and depressed; body and tail 

 of moderate length. Eye small. Anterior frontals about 

 one-fourth the size of posterior; vertical rather longer than 

 broad, with the anterior angle very open ; occipitals as long 

 as postfrontals and vertical together, rounded behind ; six 

 upper labials, the third and fourth entering the orbit; the 

 fifth is the largest and forms a long suture with the occipital. 

 The remainder of the temple is covered by scale-like temporals 

 l-f-2. Two postoculars. Anterior chin-shields twice as 

 long as posterior, in contact with four labials. Scales in 

 seventeen rows, smooth, without apical groove. Ventrals 

 160-168 ; anal entire ; subcaudals 39-48. 



Upper parts uniform black ; below white ; on the two or 

 three outer series of scales the white colour appears in more 

 or less distinct small spots, whilst the black of the upper parts 

 extends to the angles of the ventral shields. Each subcaudal 

 black in front. 



We have received four examples of this species in a collec- 

 tion made in the neighbourhood of the city of Mexico by Hr. 

 Doorman. The largest is 14| inches long, the tail being 

 3 inches, and the head 5 lines. 



Simotes hicatenatus (Gthr.). 



Specimens of this snake have been collected by Mr. Theo- 

 bald in Pegu. 



Simotes venustus (Jerdon). 



We have lately received well-preserved examples from Mr. 

 Theobald and Capt. Beddome. I find that this snake, ori- 

 ginally referred to Xenodon by Mr. Jerdon, has only one or 

 two palatine teeth, and is therefore intermediate between 

 Simotes and Oligodon. 



Simotes amabUis. PI. XVII. fig. A. 



Scales in nineteen rows. One prse-, two postoculars ; loreal 

 square ; seven upper labials, the third and fourth entering the 

 orbit ; temporals l-f-2 ; ventrals 178 ; anal entire ; subcaudals 

 seventy-five. 



Head with the markings usual in the species of this genus. 

 Back with forty-one narrow yellow cross bars, each edged with 

 black in front and behind, the entire marking being scarcely 

 broader than a scale ; tail with similar markings, but more or 

 less broken up into spots. Lower parts white, a rather ir- 

 regular series of small blackish spots along each side of the 

 belly, not continued on to the tail. 



