8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. 



rows of scales in the anterior part of the body are boldly keeled, its 

 identity will be established. 



(10) Coluber oxycephalous (see Figs. 10 and 11) has 8-10 upper labials 

 three of which usually (rarely two) touch the eye, and a frontal in 

 contact with 8 other shields. It may be identified by the co-existence 

 of two characters which are (i) the dorsal scales number 23-27 

 anteriorly, 23-25 in the middle of the body, and 17-15 posteriorly; 

 (ii) the median scales in the anterior part of the body are not keeled. 

 It grows to 7 feet, and is known from the Eastern Himalayas, Tenas- 

 serim, Burma, Andamans and Nicobars, extending into the Malayan 

 region. It is, says Dr. Stoliczka, generally seen on bushes near 

 brackish water creeks, and is always ready to take to water. 



(11) Coluber frenatw (see Fig. 12) is peculiar in having no loreal, 

 its place being occupied by the extension of the prefrontal so as to 

 meet the 2nd or 2nd and 3rd labials. This in itself would distinguish 

 this from all the other snakes, but if the head is mutilated the dorsal 

 scales should be counted, and will be found to number 19 in the 

 anterior, and middle parts of the body, and 15 posteriorly. It grows to 

 3 feet, appears to be rare, and is peculiar to the Khasi Hills in Assam. 



(12) Coluber prasinus. — Like the last two, has three labials touch- 

 ing the eye, usually the 4th, 5th and 6th, and has a frontal which is 

 usually in contact with 8 other shields. The dorsal scales number 19 

 In the anterior, and middle parts of the body and 15 posteriorly. It- 

 appears to be uncommon, grows to 3 feet, and has been recorded from 

 the Eastern Himalayas, Khasi Hills and Burma. 



(13) Ablabes dorm is easily distinguished from all the rest by the 

 dorsal scales numbering 15 throughout the body. This is a rare snake, 

 until recently only recorded from the Kachin Hills in Burma. I dis- 

 covered a young specimen in 1901 in a Museum in Shanghai, which 

 has extended its known habitat into China (Yangtse Valley). It grows 

 to 3 feet. 



(To be continued.) 



