82^ 



EEPTILIA. 



Tropidonotus subminiatus, Boie. 



Tropidonotus subminiatus, (Reinw.) Boie, Isis, 1837, p. 535 ; ScUeg., Ess. Phys. Serp., 1837, vol. if^ 

 p. 313 J Blyth, Journ. As. Soc, Bengal, vol. xxiii, 1854, p. 296 ; Gunth., Cat. Col. Sn., B. M., 

 1858, p. 69 ; Eept. B. Ind., 1864, p. 265 ; Theobald, Journ. Linn. Soc, 1868, p. 47 ; Stol., Journ. 

 As, Soc, Bengal, vol. xl^ 1871, p. 434, pi. xxvi, fig. 3 ; Anders., Proc Zool. Soc, 1871, p. 177. 



BhabdopUs subminiatus^ Fitz., Syst. Rept., 1843, p. 27. 



Jmphiesma suhminiatum, Dum. & Bibr., Erpet. Gen., 1854, vol. vii, p. 734 ; Jan, Canestr. Arch. 

 Zool., vol. iii, 1865, p. 234 ; Jan & Sord., Icon. Gen., Oph. No. xxix, 1865, pi. i. 



Tropidonotus (Amphiesma) subminiatus, Steind., Rept. Reise Novara, 1867, p. 66. 



The colour is uniform olive-green above with a few black and reddish spots on 

 the front of the body. In young specimens which have a blackish colour on the 

 neck, the scales for some distance behind it have their margins tinged with coral-red. 

 Under-surface yellow with an irregular line of black dots on the angles of the 

 ventrals and a black triangular spot below the eye. 



Of the Muangla specimens only one has the labials regular, viz., eight upper 

 labials, the third, fourth and fifth entering the orbit. Its postoculars are regular, 

 but the temporals are in contact only with the two lowest. Two other specimens 

 have eight labials on the one side and nine on the other, and in both cases the third, 

 fourth and fifth enter the orbit. However, the one has three postoculars on the 

 side with nine labials, and on the other side the lowest of the postoculars is nearly 

 divided in two. The other specimen has four postoculars on the side with eight 

 labials all in contact with the temporals ; on the opposite side, there are only three, 

 the two lowest alone being touched by the temporals. Another example has only 

 seven labials on the one side and eight on the other, the third and fourth entering 

 the orbit on the side with seven, and the third, fourth and fifth on the side with 

 eight : on the side with seven the fifth labial is excluded by the lower postocular, 

 and a portion of the third labial is detached as a lower preocular. The accom- 

 panying tables will illustrate the variations of the specimens, all of which have 

 nineteen rows of scales. 



Length (total) 

 „ of head 

 of tail 



Number of ventrals - 

 of sub-caudals 



Inches. 



34-25 

 0-88 

 7-33 



167 



82 



Inches. 



25-17 

 0-66 

 6-56 



170 

 90 



Inches. 



3100 

 0-83 



?* 



173 



? 



Inches. 



20-50 

 0-66 



?* 



165 



? 



Inches. 



33-00 



0-83 



169 



? 



Inches. 



26-25 

 0-66 



168 

 92 



This species is not uncommon in the valleys of Sanda, Nantin, Momien and 

 Hotha. 



Genus Atretium, Cope. 

 Atretium schistosum, Daud., var. yunnanensis. 



Chittee, Russell, Ind. Serp., vol. ii, 1801, plate iv. 



Coluber scJiistosus, Daud., Rept., vol. vii, 1803, p. 132 ; Merr. Tentam Erpe't., 1820, p. 103. 



* Tail imperfect. 



