18/1.] DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILES. 193 



split into two, and carry two, three, or four tubercles. The tubercles 

 on the scales of the slender portion are very indistinct, but in the 

 thick part they become distinct, and are usually two in number. 

 Ventrals 456; six small anal shields. Total length 51" 6'"; 

 tail 4" 3'". Twenty-eight blackish rings round the slender portion 

 of the body, confluent on the back, and connected on the under 

 surface by the black ventral shields. Compressed part of the body 

 uniform yellowish (spirit specimen) ; but the general colour is much 

 faded ; the black rings, however, on the anterior half are well 

 marked. 



This fine specimen was obtained at the Sand Heads at the mouth 

 of the Hughli. m 



Enhydrina schistosa, Daud.* 



Distinguished from its very near kinsfellow, E. valalcadyen, by its 

 narrow and more elongated head and head-shields, its longer gape, 

 the smaller and more pointed character of its scales, which are also 

 not nearly so strongly carinated as in that species, their greater 

 number, and its relatively shorter and narrower tail. 



Body elongate, compressed ; head narrow and elongate, one-third 

 the length of the tail ; nasals large and elongate ; fourth labial 

 below the eye ; one postocular united to the fourth labial ; mental 

 shield very narrow and much elongated, as long as the first labials ; 

 fifty to sixty longitudinal rows of scales round the neck. The 

 scales are rather small, elongate, pointed, and leaf-shaped on the 

 anterior third of the body, broader and more round at their points in 

 the middle third, and still more circular on the last third ; scales on 

 the throat, neck, and a considerable portion of under surface of the 

 anterior part of the body narrow, much pointed and elongated, and 

 perfectly smooth, without any trace of tubercles. The shields of the 

 head are quite smooth ; but the scales of the back are keeled and 

 slightly imbricate, while those on the sides are feebly keeled, hexa- 

 gonal, and scarcely imbricate. The tail is about one-tenth the length 

 of the body, and is not so deep as the preanal portion of the body. 

 Uniform dark olive-green on the dorsal surface, paling to pale green- 

 ish yellow on the sides, and to white lower down on the sides and on 

 the belly. 



Length, total 40" 1'", tail 4". 



Hab. Gopalpore. 



From the strong resemblance of this species to E. valahadyen, it is 

 probable that the two have long been confounded. To Dr. Stoliczka 

 belongs the credit of having again called attention to the characters 

 distinguishing these two forms, which appear to be quite distinct. 

 I have before me for comparison a specimen of undoubted E. vala- 

 lcadyen, of smaller size than this specimen ; but, notwithstanding, the 

 scales of the former are much larger every way, and broader and 

 truncated at the tips, than in the latter ; so that age will not account 

 for such differences. Moreover the form and size of the head of 

 E. schistosa, compared with E. valakadyen, are so pronounced that 

 * See Journ. As. Soc. 1870, p. 213. 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1871, No. XIII. 



