1871.] DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILES. 173 



oculars, the lower one resting on the suture of the fifth and sixth 

 labials, and both in contact with two other elongated temporals. 

 Temporals 2 + 2, or 2+3, or 2 + 2 + 3. Eight upper labials, the 

 fourth and fifth entering the orbit ; ten lower labials. Two pair 

 of chin-shields ; the anterior pair considerably larger than the pos- 

 terior pair, in contact with five labials ; the posterior pair separated 

 by two small scales. Nineteen rows of scales, not elongate ; those 

 on the dorsal surface faintly keeled, those on the sides smooth. 

 Ventrals with distinct indications of a keel, and bent up the side ; 

 anal entire ; ventrals 222 to 232 ; caudals 68 to 76. General colour 

 dark olive-brown, many of the scales with pale or white margins, on 

 the intervals between a double series of vertebral dark olive-brown 

 spots that coalesce a short way behind the neck into a vertebral 

 series of large black figure-of-8-like spots connected with each other 

 on either side by a faint dark lateral line of the breadth of two 

 scales. On the third and fourth series of scales from the ven- 

 trals there is a longitudinal line of elongated black spots with light 

 centres, connected with each other by loops, like the links of a chain. 

 Both these and the dorsal line of spots, which commence about half 

 an inch behind the head, disappear about the middle of the body, 

 the lateral line_ being only represented by ill-defined short black 

 lines. The white edgings, however, to certain of the scales remain, 

 and become gradually defined, from before backwards, into trans- 

 verse white or brick-red lines, with black margins, which become 

 most marked on the hinder quarter of tke trunk and on the tail. 

 The under surface anteriorly is yellowish, especially bright on the 

 upper labials and chin ; but it is irregularly marked anteriorly with 

 black spots, which become more diffused posteriorly until the whole 

 of the under surface becomes almost black. 



_ In a rather young specimen from Darjeeling the rostral is de- 

 cidedly broader than high, while in a Garo-Hill specimen it is as 

 markedly higher than broad. 



One specimen has the posterior frontals confluent ; and another 

 has them united throughout half their extent, while a third has one 

 of the anterior frontals partially divided. 



_ In one specimen a very small portion of the first labial on one 

 side is separated as a labial ; and the inferior prseocular on the same 

 side appears to be a separated portion of the third and fourth labials, 

 as its upper margin is marked by a slight notch in its middle, thus 

 indicating its twofold character. 



I have also indicated in the above description the variations ob- 

 servable in the other head-shields. The Darjeeling specimens have 

 usually more triangular than quadrangular loreals and prefrontals, 

 and more elongate loreals than those from the Garo Hills ; but the 

 similarity of the specimens from both these localities is so marked 

 that it would be unjustifiable to separate them. 



Mr. Theobald included Zamenis fasciolatus under this species. 

 The specimen was from Southern India ; but I have since received 

 examples from the neighbourhood of Calcutta agreeing with it in 

 every particular. 



The coloration is wonderfully persistent. 



