COLLECTION OF OPHIDIA FROM THE CHIN HILLS. 339 



The dorsals in all four specimens were 15 — 15 — 13, the step occurring at 

 midbody. I have noted under No. XIV the remark "nasal undivided, i.e., 

 nostril pierced in centre of a single nasal shield" and under No. XV "nasal 

 and nostril as in No. XIV." If these remarks are correct the characteristic, 

 though of minor importance, is interesting in view of Major Wall's remarks 

 on the affinities of this species on pages 327 and 328 of Vol. XVIII of the 

 Society's Journal, where the shield is depicted in the illustration as 

 undivided though in the "Fauna of British India" it is described as 

 "divided." Alight-coloured vertebral band with a series of black spots 

 (XIV) or a black line (XV) on either side and the bright red colour beneath 

 the tail as described by Major Wall in Vol. XVIII, page 328. 



[This species has only once before been recorded from the Burmese 

 Province, viz., from Mansi, Katha District, this specimen being in our 

 Society's collection. Its occurrence in the Chin Hills was to be expected, 

 though never previously reported. — F. W.] 



Zamenis mucosus. 



One specimen, No. XVI, brought to me from below Nerlon village, 

 altitude about 6,000 ft. or less. Length 6 ft. 6| ins. Tail 18 ins. 

 Greatest girth 5 ins. Ventrals 192. Anal entire. Subcaudals 92 pairs, 

 the 16th from the tip of the tail being entire. — Dorsals. The disposition of 

 these scales I made out to be as follows : — At two heads-lengths behind 

 head 19, immediately behind this 17, at midbody 17, and at two heads- 

 lengths from vent 10. The steps occurred as below : — : 



From 17 to 16. — Vertebral and adjacent row on the left unite, after 

 two scales they separate again for one scale's length, 

 then unite, divide again and unite again. 

 From 16 to 14. — The 2nd and 3rd rows on the left, and the 3rd and 4th 



rows on the right are absorbed. 

 From 14 to 13. — The vertebral and adjacent row on the right unite, the 

 scales thus formed being doubly keeled for a con- 

 siderable distance. 

 From 13 to 12. — The 2nd and 3rd rows on the left unite. 

 From 12 to 11. — The 2nd and 3rd rows on the right unite. 

 From 11 to 10. — The vertebral row unites with the adjoining row on the 

 left and the following scales are again doubly keeled. 

 The distance "two heads-lengths from the vent" was only roughly taken 

 in this instance. On the right the 7th supralabial is much produced upwards 

 causing a distortion of the temporal shields on that side. There were three 

 loreal shields on the left and four on the right arranged as follows : — ante- 

 riorly one large shield followed by three small ones. There was a small 

 subocular, or it might be considered a lower prseocular, on either side, 

 The colour is uniform dark-brown, 

 U 



