MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 377 



by several small scales. The ventrals too are poorly developed, and often 

 divided, but can usually be recognised as such. The postmaxillary teeth 

 are usually 3, rarely 2 or 4. Figs. 19 and 20 are from the same specimen. 

 In fig. 19 all the labials from the 3rd are divided, and the upper part of the 

 6th is confluent with the temporal. In fig. 20 the 3rd and 4th labials are 

 normal and entire. Fig. 21 shows the same confluence of the temporal and 

 (ith labial as the last specimen with, in addition, a confluence of the postocu- 

 lars. In fig. 22 the labial is divided into three parts, the 4th is entire, 

 and both parts of the 6th complete. Fig. 23 (from the same specimen as 

 fig. 22) has the 3rd and 4th labials divided, and the upper part of the 6th 

 partly confluent with the temporal. On both sides the postoculars arc 

 united. 



Platukus LATicAUDATUs (Limie). 



The solitary specimen is from the Loo Ohoo Islands. It appears to be a 

 very rare snake in Indian waters, the only Indian records I know of being 

 the specimen in the Indian Museum from Tolly's Nullah, Calcutta, recorded 

 by Sclater, and figured by Fayrer in his Thanatophidia (Plate XIX) ; and 

 the specimen in the British Museum presented by General Hardwicke 

 labelled " Bengal." 



The specimen is very typical. The costals two headslengths behind the 

 head are 19, in midbody 19, and two headslengths before the vent 17. In 

 the reduction from 19 rows to 17, the 2nd and 3rd above the ventrals 

 coalesce. 



The ventrals are 241, anal divided, and subcaudals 40. The maxilla 

 holds a single (dubiously 2) tooth. 



F. WALL, C.M.Z.S., F.L.S., 



Majok, I. M.S. 

 Almora, July 1914. 



No. XXXV.— OCCURRENCE OF THE SNAKE MELANOPHIDIUM 

 PUNCTATUMT^ THE WESTERN GHATS. 



An interesting and valuable addition to our Society's reptile collection is 

 a specimen of MelanopMdium, punctatu')n taken by Mr. S, H. Prater at 

 Talvvadi on the Goanese Frontier, a locality which extends its previously 

 known habitat. The snake is rare. There are six specimens in the British 

 Museum, all from the Travancore Hills, and I have had one from the 

 Anamallays. It has never been recorded before north of the gap in the 

 mountainous chain which occurs at Palghat. The scale rows two heads- 

 lengths behind the head are 13, at midhody 15, and two headslengths 

 before the vent 13. The ventrals are 197 and subcaudals 11 pairs. The 

 specimen is very typical. 



Almoka, IQth May 1914. 



F. WALL, C.M.Z.S., F.L.S., 



Ma JDK, I. M.S. 



No. XXXVI.— NOTES ON A GRAVID ECHIS CARINATA. 



A specimen of this snake recently sent me from Lahore proved to be 

 gravid. It was killed on the 18th June, and measured one foot two inches. 

 In the abdomen were four foetuses in membrane, seemingly ready to be 

 born. It was in an advanced state of putrefaction, and the one foetus 

 capable of measurement was 5f inches long. 



