1875. | DR. A. GUNTHER ON INDIAN REPTILES. 231 
and nasals are much reduced in size by the large loreal, and almost rudi- 
mentary. Anterior frontals very small, scarcely one fourth the size 
of the posterior. Vertical six-sided, as long as broad, with an ob- 
tuse anterior angle, and with very short supraciliary edges ; supra- 
ciliary and postocular of equally small size. Five upper labials ; the 
third and fourth enter the orbit, the fifth the largest. Temporals 
1+2. Mental shield and the anterior lower labials nearly entirely 
suppressed by a pair of very large chin-shields ; these are followed 
by another pair of small scale-like chin-shields, behind which is the 
first abdominal scute, which again is much enlarged. Ventrals 129- 
131 ; anal single; subcaudals 17-27. Uniform blackish above and 
below, with an indistinct buff collar. 
Three specimens from Travancore in Col. Beddome’s collection ; 
the largest is only 7} inches long, the tail measuring } inch. 
This species agrees with Platypteryx perrotteti (D. & B.) in 
having the same number of rows of scales; but the pterygoid bones 
are scarcely more dilated than in G. microcephalus. 
SIMOTES SPLENDIDUS. (Plate XXXIII.) 
Scales in twenty-one rows. Each of the anterior frontals is broken 
up into two shields; so that there are four small shields in the same 
transverse row. Loreal distinct ; two preoculars, the lower of which 
is much smaller than the upper ; two or three postoculars; eight 
upper labials, the fourth and fifth of which form the lower part of 
the orbit ; temporals irregular. Ventral shields 195; anal entire; 
subcaudals 42. Yellowish white, with sixteen large bluish grey spots 
on the back ; each of these spots is of an oblong shape, indented in 
front and behind, with a black edge and surrounded with a bright 
yellow margin; each scale within the spot with a black speck. The 
scales of the interspaces of the white ground-colour are irregularly 
speckled with blackish. A yellow line along the median line of the 
tail. The first spot on the neck is nearly entirely longitudinally 
divided by a yellow line, and is lance-shaped in front, the point of 
the lance resting on the vertical shield. The remainder of the head 
speckled with black. Lower parts white, with an irregular series of 
small squarish black spots along each abdominal edge. 
A single example from the Wynad is in Col. Beddome’s collection ; 
it is 20 inches long, the tail measuring 23 inches. 
ABLABES ALBIVENTER. 
Scales in fifteen rows. Two pairs of frontals. Loreal elongate ; one 
pree- and two postoculars. Temporals 1+1,; the occipital does not 
extend downwards to the lower postocular. Six upper labials, the 
third and fourth entering the orbit. Two pairs of chin-shields, the an- 
terior being nearly twice the size of the posterior, and in contact with 
four labials. Ventrals 125; anal double; subcaudals 31. Brownish 
above ; two or three narrow blackish lines along the outer series of 
scales ; an indistinct light collar. Lower parts yellowish white. 
Four examples from Darjeeling are in Dr. Jerdon’s collection ; 
the largest is 8 inches long, the tail measuring 12 inch. 
