1 8~6-] MR. W. T. BLANFORD ON INDIAN REPTILES. G35 



5. On some of the Specific Identifications in Dr. Gunther's 

 Second Report on Collections of Indian Reptiles obtained 

 by the British Museum. By W. T. Blaxford, F.R.S., 

 F.Z.S. 



[Received June 6, 18~f>.] 



Dr. Giinther, in his " Second Report on Collections of Indian Rep- 

 tiles obtained by the British Museum" (P. Z. S. 1875, p. 224), has 

 made some " short remarks on species of reptiles recently named 

 and described — not with the object of correcting nomenclature, but 

 rather with the view of inviting the authors of those species to re- 

 consider the characters on which they have based them." As some 

 of the remarks in question refer to species distinguished, though in 

 no case originally described by myself, I took the first opportunity, 

 after seeing Dr. Gunther's paper, of reexamining the specimens 

 on which my opinions had been founded. I have also examined 

 some of the types described by the late Dr. Stoliczka. The result 

 is that I am unable in some cases to agree with Dr. Giinther ; and 

 in one case I think I can show that some mistake has been made. 

 I will take Dr. Gunther's identifications in the order in which they 

 occur*. 



1. Cabrita brunnea. 



Dr. Giinther is, I believe, right in considering this the same as 

 C. leschenaulti. In 18/1 I collected many specimens of the former 

 (which I had previously considered distinct), and I could find no dif- 

 ference except in the number of postnasals ; and this depends on the 

 circumstance that the lower nasal is sometimes united to the lower 

 postnasal, sometimes separate. The same variation is occasionally 

 met with in Ophiops eleguns. 



I found Cabrita leschenaulti common in the Godavery valley near 

 Badrachellum ; and I noticed that the very young which abounded in 

 the month of April had always two postnasals, but that as they grew 

 larger the lower postnasal appeared to become united to the lower 

 nasal. It is possible (as I did not remain in one spot) that the 

 distinction was local, and that the young Lizards in one place had 

 two postnasals, in another one ; but after the animals had grown 

 rather larger I could find none with two postnasals, although those 

 I found at first all had them. The head-scales in the very young 

 animals are quite smooth. 



2. Ophiops jerdoni, Blyth. 



Dr. Giinther unites with this Cabrita jerdoni of Beddome and 

 myself, Pseudopthiops theobaldi, Jerdon, and Ophiops bivittatus of 

 Beddome. The last two identifications had already been made by 

 Beddome (Madras Med. Journ. 1870) and by Stoliczka (J. A. S. B. 



* Dr. Gimther has, I think, overlooked the circumstance that many of his 

 identifications had been anticipated by the late Dr. Stoliczka (J. A. S. B. 1872, 

 xli. pt. 2, pp. 86-135). 



