REPTILES COLLECTED IN CHITRAL. 133 



Varanus griseus (Daudin). 



I had one specimen brought to me on the 25th May which measured 21 

 inches from snout to anus, and the tail, though slightly deficient, also 

 measured 21 inches. Boulenger calls it a desert species, and makes no 

 reference to it among hills, so that its occurrence in the heart of thf 

 Himalayas close to the Hindu Kush at an altitude of about 4,000 feet is 

 noteworthy. 



Lyyosoma himalayanum (Giinther). 



At 10,000 feet this was a very common little lizard. Its numbers must be 

 considerably checked by the pit-viper {Ancistrodon himalayanus) which preys 

 upon it extensively. 



Ophidia. 



Snakes, though fairly abundant in Ohitral, were represented by but few 

 species. The name for a snake is '' ae ," a corruption of the Arabic name 

 " afae " I am told, but there is no Chitrali name for any of the species, not 

 even the cobra which is very common. 



COLUBRID^. 



Ti'opidonotus tessellatus (Laurenti.) 



Three specimens of this species were captured near Mastuj in July at 

 an altitude of about 6,000 feet. The species was j)lentiful there in a piece 

 of ground adjoining a stream. I obtained it nowhere else. 



Chitralis had told me that a snake frequents the hot springs in their 

 country and I made every endeavour to get specimens. A cooly was 

 sent on three occasions to the springs they were supposed to inhabit, but 

 his labours were fruitless. I very much suspect that this snake is 

 the one referred to^ and that the water need not be hot to suit their 

 tastes. 



Two of my specimens were S 6 , and the third a $ . One killed be- 

 tween the 14th and 22nd July discharged two eggs during its death 

 throes. 



The ventrals and subcaudals were 182 -|- 66 and 180-}- 67 in the cJ c5' and 

 are not recorded in the third specimen. 



The lepidosis in every respect agreed with that of the many Persian speci- 

 mens I have examined. One specimen had swallowed a good-sized newt, 

 that was too digested about the head to identify. As far as I am aware 

 the species has never before been recorded East of the Hindu Kush and 

 its known habitat is therefore much extended. 



Dentition. — The maxillary in my skull supports 26 teeth in an uninter- 

 rupted series, the hinder gradually enlarged. This condition conforms to 

 that of the genus Nerodia (Baird and Gir). Palatine 18 to 15. Pterygoid 

 17 to 19. Mandibular 26 to 28. It completely accords with my three 

 Persian skulls. 



