MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



233 



As in an oviparous embryo, tne organ is embedded in the prsemaxilla, its 

 dome-like root (see a in figure B) being received into a socket in the lower 

 aspect of that bone (see figure E). The whole structure is extremely like a 

 duck's head in shape. Its rounded aspect (6 in figure B) is the lower, and its 

 flattened aspect the upper {see c in figure B). Its bill-like extremity ending 

 in a rounded, horizontal incising edge (see d in figure B) projects forward 

 beneath the prsemaxillary arch (e in figure D). The root is yellow in colour, 

 and all the rest of the structure white. Figure A shows the lower surface and 

 C a profile seen from below and in front. 



The measurements of the brood and the ventrals and subcaudals are given 

 below, and it will be seen that they do not show any sexual differences. 



The parent was killed on the banks of a nullah on the 1st of August 1909. 

 She measured 2 feet 5 inches, of which the tail accounted for 4f inches. 

 The costals were the same as those of her brood viz. 21 — 21 — ]7, and the 

 reduction of rows from 21 to 19. and 19 to 17 occurred very close together, 

 and in both steps was due to a fusion of the 5th and 6th rows above the 

 ventrals. The ventrals numbered 175, and the subcaudals 52. 



Another interesting point brought to light is that in this species there are 

 no palatine teeth, unlike other species of the same genus of which I have 

 skulls (anamallemis , monticola, gramincus, macrolepis, purpureomaculatus and 

 trigonociphalus.) The dentition is as follows : — Marillary 2 large fangs placed 

 side by side. Palatine none. Pterygoid 5 to 6. Mandibular 10. 



Another specimen measuring 10^ inches from the same source killed on the 

 26th August 1909 is obviously this year's production and indicates that the 

 embryos in the gravid $ would probably have grown an inch, or two more 

 before being born. These dates of capture serve to fill in another gap in 

 the breeding history of this species, vis. } the season when the young are pro- 

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