MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 863 



ventrals range from 319 to 370, and (3) whilst some specimens have many- 

 vertebral spots, one at least has none at all, and another a single faint one 

 anteriorly and two behind. 



It seems to me absolutely conclusive that spiralis and bruymansi should 

 be considered a single species for which the former name having precedence 

 should hold. 



Another opinion expressed by me in my monograph* is that individuals 

 of the same species show so much variation in the number and disposition 

 of the supralabial and temporal shields that with few exceptions these 

 shields are of very dubious, if any, value in assisting the classification of the 

 group. Preference to the figures I append taken from the brood before me 

 strongly support this statement. 



I think it is obvious in figures I and VI that the temporal is confluent 

 with a subjacent labial, but even in figures II and VII, I think it better to 

 record the condition as (figure II) supralabials 6th, 5th confluent with 

 temporal, and (figure VII) supralabials 7, 6th confluent with temporal, 

 instead of saying temporal reaching labial margin, and not including this 

 shield in the supralabial series, as some authors do. 



A careful search for the foetal tooth in these specimens was unavailing. 



I take this opportunity of appealing to those members of our Society 

 residing on our coasts, to send any specimens of gravid sea-snakes to our 

 Secretary. The study of a brood may lead to most important conclusions, 

 and may materially reduce the difficulty in classifying the group. 



F. WALL, c.m.z.s., Majok, i.m.s. 

 Chitral, 18th August 1910. 



* Loc. Cit., p 178. 



No. XIX.— KRAIT AND LANDRIA {D. TRIGONATUS). 



I send you two snakes which were the actors in a grim tragedy on 

 October 21st, 1910, at the Residency, Bhuj. The one I have little hesitation 

 in calling the Common Krait (Qutchi-Padamnag) as it seems to tally with 

 Major Wall's description. It is not full grown, being 31 inches only. 

 The other yellowish-green with coffin-shaped head and white semi belts 

 edged with black scales down its back is called Landoria by some Deccani 

 and Konkani sepoys. H. H. the Maharao Sahib says its Sindhi 

 name is Landria, and Cutchi Kodia. We have usually considered this to 

 be the Phoorsa, but it does not seem to be scientifically correct to do so 

 for it appears to differ largely from the Echis carinata of Major Wall's 

 book. This snake measures 38^ inches. 



At 7 a. m. Col. H. M. Abud, the Resident in Cutch, found the Landria 

 hanging by a twist in its tail to a twig of the bougainvillia growing over 

 his porch. Hanging on to its head was the krait, the krait having the 



