230 DR. A, GUNTHER ON INDIAN REPTILES. [Mar. 16, 
the supraorbital and postorbital confluent ; therefore the separation 
of these shields cannot be continued asa character of Plectrurus, 
which, however, is sufficiently distinguished by the vertically com- 
pressed terminal caudal scute. 
PLectTRURUS BREVIS (Beddome), 
=P. perrotteti, young. 
MELANOPHIDIUM BILINEATUM (Bedd.). (Plate XXXII. fig. A.) 
The coloration of the adult and young is perfectly the same, ex- 
cept that the lateral band and the lower side of the tail are pure white 
in the young, whilst in the adult a series of minute black dots runs 
along the middle of the lateral band, and the lower part of the tail 
is ornamented by two series of round black spots. 
This species occurs in the Wynad, at an altitude of 4000-5000 ft. 
MELANOPHIDIUM PUNCTATUM (Bedd.). (Plate XXXII. fig. B.) 
In this species the coloration of the adult and young is identical, 
the sides being ornamented sometimes by two, and sometimes by 
three longitudinal rows of black spots. But the terminal scale of 
the tail is subject to a remarkable change: in a specimen 12 inches 
long it is simply conical (fig. 2); in another, 173 inches long, it 
is narrow, provided with two parallel ridges, each ending in a short 
spine (fig. 3); and, finally, in another of 18 inches, and much thicker 
Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. 
Magnified 2 diameters. 
than the second, the terminal scute is compressed, with the ridges as 
in the second specimen, but with two pairs of short spines, one pair 
being vertically above the other (fig. 4). 
The mental groove is equally developed in all these specimens and 
species. 
This species is found in Travancore, at an altitude of 3000-5000 feet. 
ASpipuRA copii, Gthr. 
We have received a second example of this species; it was obtained 
in the district of Dimbola, Ceylon. 
GEOPHIS STENORHYNCHUS. 
Similar in habit to G. microcephalus, but with fifteen series of 
scales. Rostral shield narrow and deep. The two anterior labials 
