1S71.] DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILES. 189 



Assam these Snakes occur on the grass slopes at the foot of the hills, 

 and are called by the Assamese "Dabi Serp," and by the Cucharees 

 " Garanga Sim." They are said to be very irascible during the 

 breeding- season, and to charge without any provocation. 



This Snake is not uncommon in Eastern Bengal; and I have obtained 

 it close to Calcutta — one from the Royal Botanic Gardens, and another 

 from the neighbourhood of Mutlah. I have heard of its occurrence 

 at Raneegunge, and have seen a specimen from the Jessore. It is 

 in all probability the "Black Cobra" of Hooker; and there can be 

 little doubt that the Cobras constantly killed in the Sikkim Hima- 

 laya of fabulous dimensions are of this species. I have it from 

 Darjeeling, at an altitude of 6000 feet. 



Bungarus cjeruleus, Sehneid. ; Gthr. I. c. p. 343. 



This specimen is uniform black above, pale brown beneaffi, and 

 highly iridescent. 



Length 23f, tail 3| inches; ventrals 225, caudals 55. 



Hah. Nazeerah, Assam, and from Agra. 



This is the most generally prevalent poisonous Snake in the north- 

 west provinces of India. It is rare in the neighbourhood of Cal- 

 cutta and Lower Bengal, where the natives do not know it as a 

 poisonous Snake. In its young state it has a considerable resem- 

 blance to LycoJon aulicus in the general character of its colouring ; 

 and I have received specimens of the latter Snake sent to me as 

 examples of this species. 



Callophis macclellandii, Reinh. ; Gthr. I. c. p. 350. 



This specimen belongs to Giinther's variety y, forming twenty-two 

 rings, each dilating on the ventral surface into a large black spot, 

 and each of these being separated by another isolated black spot. 



No vertebral line. 



Length 16§, tail 1-f inches; ventrals 219, caudals 33. 



Ilab. Nazeerah, Assam. 



Platurus fischeri, Jan; Gthr. I. c. p. 35G. 



The specimen which I provisionally refer to this species has 

 nineteen rows of smooth scales round the fore part of the trunk, in 

 longitudinal series, and 235 ventrals ; there is no azygos shield 

 between the posterior frontals ; and in all of these characters it agrees 

 with this species. But on comparing the head with Giinther's 

 drawing, I find that the anterior frontals in my specimen differ from 

 it in being long and pointed anteriorly, and considerably larger 

 than the posterior pair, and in the vertical being proportionally 

 larger than in P. fischeri, and the occipitals longer and more pointed. 

 It has one prse- and two postoculars ; and the third and fourth la- 

 bials are below the eye. Two pairs of large chin-shields, the pos- 

 terior pair with a large scale between their posterior extremities. 

 It also differs from P. fischeri in having fifty-six black rings round 

 the trunk instead of thirty-six ; but I do not attach much import- 

 ance to this, as P. scutatus shows about an equal variation : yet, 



