28 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV IK 



to the nostril, vertical diameter about half its distance to the labial 

 margin ; pupil round. Postocular one, large. Temporals three ; the- 

 lowest largest, and in contact with the 4th and 5th supralabials. 

 Supralabials 6. The first very small, second rather larger, third and 

 fourth very deep, fifth and sixth moderate. The third and fourth 

 touch the eye. Mental very broad. Anterior sublinguals large. Posterior- 

 sublinguals small and widely separated by 5 scales. Infralabials 3 

 touch the anterior sublinguals on the left side, 4 on the right; the 3rd' 

 and 4th touch the posterior sublinguals on the left side; the 4th and 

 5th on the right ; the 4th is the largest of the series on the left side, the 

 5th on the right; the suture between the 1st is about half that between 

 the anterior sublinguals. Scales 2 heads lengths behind head 26, miclbody 

 25, 2 heads lengths in front of vent 21; smooth, no apical pits; the 

 vertebral row is not enlarged, and the last row very slightly so. Supra- 

 caudals in odd rows. Ventrals 229 rounded, broad. Anal entire. Sub-, 

 caudals 30, all entire, except the first which is divided. Colour uniform 

 glossy blue-black everywhere. The head is broad, blunt, and declivous 

 from occipital region. Neck not constricted. Body subcylindricaL 

 Tail short. 



Melanelaps mcphersoni. ( x 2 ) 



