176 DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILES. [Feb. 21» 



be a very variable one, and to become mucb modified by age in the 

 character of the colouring of its head and body. 



This is the Snake commonly seen, along with Eryx johnii, in the 

 possession of the snake-charmers of the North-west Provinces. 



Zamenis brachyurus, Gthr. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 3, 

 xviii. p. 27 ; Blanford, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1870, p. 372. 



I have one specimen of this Snake from the S.E. Berars, agreeing 

 in every particular with the description of the type, except that the 

 colouring appears to be a little darker, which may be explained by 

 the circumstance that it reached me shortly after its capture, whereas 

 Giinther's type had in all probability been a much longer time in 

 spirit. 



Tropidonotus quincunciatus, Schleg. ; Gthr. I. c. p. 260. 



Four postoculars on one side, and three on the other. The fourth 

 is a separated portion of the fourth and fifth upper labials. 



Hab. Nazeerah, Assam, Agra. 



The Agra specimen was chequered with bright red and olive- 

 green when alive. 



Tropidonotus stol.vtus, L. ; Gthr. /. c. p. 2G~. 

 Hab. Nazeerah, Assam. 



Tropidonotus plumbicolor, Cantor ; Gthr. L c. p. 272. 



I procured a specimen of this species about twenty miles to the 

 west of Galle, in Ceylon. 



The only particular in which it differs from the continental form 

 is, that the under surface instead of being blackish is a dirty olive. 



Length of body 10", tail 1" 9'". Ventrals 154 ; subcaudals 44. 



Tropidonotus platyceps, Blyth ; Gthr. 1. c. p. 264. 



The dentition of Blyth's type and my specimens is 14 + 2, en- 

 larged teeth behind separated from each other by a distinct interval, 

 and not 10 as stated by Giinther. The enlarged teeth are two in 

 number, and in a special sac. 



In Blyth's type one specimen has three postoculars on both sides, 

 the two lowermost ones in contact with two temporals ; while the 

 other specimen has a like arrangement on its right side, but only two 

 postoculars and one anterior temporal on its left. My specimens show 

 like variations of the postocular and temporal shields, as follows : — 



Number Number of Temporals in con- 

 of postoculars. temporals anteriorly. tact with oculars. 



No. Right. Left. Right. Left. ' Right. Left. 



1 3 3 1 2 2 2 



2 3 3 1 1 2 2 



3 3 3 2 2 2 2 



4 3 3 2 2 2 2 



5 3 3 1 1 2 2 



6 3 3 11 2 2 



