1871.] DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILES. 181 



and sixth labials. Temporals 1 + 2 + 3. Upper labials eight, the 

 fourth entering the orbit, the seventh and eighth split into two 

 pieces ; thirteen lower labials, the sixth the largest, and the last five 

 very small. One pair of large chin-shields, in contact with four 

 labials ; posterior shields small, scale-like, the first pair intercalated 

 between the large anterior pair and the fifth and sixth lower labials ; 

 six transverse rows of scales between the first ventral and the last 

 chin- shield. Thirty- four large broad black-edged spots passing down 

 on either side to the third or fourth row of scales from the ventrals, 

 with a triangular dark brown almost black spot between them and 

 their extremities ; the under surface and sides yellow, the former 

 chequered with black ; ground of upper surface pale brown. 



I make out seven equal teeth, and one large grooved tooth 

 behind. 



There is a reference to this Snake in the Proc. As. Soc. of Bengal, 

 March 1869, p. 105, and in the Journal of the same society, part ii. 

 1 SCO, p. ] 96. It is described as a new genus and species, Feranoides 

 jamncetica, Carlleyle. In a footnote, the editor remarks that it is 

 one of the rare instances among the Homalopsidse of a Snake with 

 a round pupil, and that its dentition is peculiar. However, as these 

 remarks were founded on an imperfect drawing, their inaccuracy is 

 not surprising. 



My specimen has a vertical pupil, as stated ; and the dentition is 

 that of Ferania. 



Mr. Carlleyle, of the Agra Museum, who procured this Snake, 

 states that he got at Allahabad last year four living Snakes which he 

 fhiuks might be classed along with this species. It is probable that 

 this Snake may not be so rare as was at first supposed. 



Hipistes hydrinus, Cantor ; Gthr. /. c. p. 287. 



This species has a very strong resemblance in the character of its 

 colouring to the Hydrophiidce, perhaps even more so than any c' 1 

 of the Homalopsidse. The discoverer of this genus directs particular 

 attention to the peculiar character of the rostral, which is marked in 

 front by one small and two lateral depressions, the latter being placed 

 immediately above two grooves on the under surface of the rostral, 

 continuous with the palatal furrow. He describes the projecting 

 anterior portion of each groove as a tubercle, while in reality it is 

 not more than the forward projection of the fold of the rostral con- 

 stituting the groove ; and he regards this as the mechanical contri- 

 vance by which this Serpent, like the Hydrophiidse, is enabled her- 

 metically to close its mouth. The nasal is certainly not nearly twice 

 as large as the posterior frontals, and can only be described as 

 being smaller. The lower prseocular is fully three times the size 

 of the other. The occipitnls are much broken up. There are two 

 pairs of chin-shields as described by Cantor, the front pair very 

 much larger and longer than the posterior one, and in contact with 

 six labial shields. The eye, which is placed almost on the upper 

 surface of the head, has a vertical pupil as in Ferania, Cantoria, 

 and Cerberus, and is very small and is slightly external to the line of 



