MISCELLANEA. 



REPTILES. 



Remarks on Simotes splendidus. — I am indebted to Dr. N. 

 Annandale for the privilege of examining a rare snake, Simotes 

 splendidus, from Kyaukse, Upper Burma. 



For many years this species was only known from a single 

 specimen in the British Museum described by Giinther in 1875.' 

 This specimen was captured in the Wynaad. In 1900, Major (then 

 Captain) Evans and I acquired the head and neck of a snake from 

 Sagaing, Upper Burma, which we referred to this species with some 

 hesitation, firstly, from the fact that there were four prsefrontals in 

 a transverse series as well as four internasals , secondh^, the great 

 distance separating the locality that produced the type-specimen, 

 and that in which our example was obtained ; and thirdly, owing 

 to the imperfect character of this specimen. We published some 

 remarks on this example." Later Major Evans procured two 

 perfect specimens of what appeared obviously the same species 

 as that just referred to. These were both obtained in Upper 

 Burma (the Ruby Mines and Yamethin District). These examples 

 were remarked upon by Major Evans in the Bombay Natural History 

 Journal^'' and he expressed the opinion that the specimen agreed 

 with Mr. Boulenger's description of the type-specimen.^ 



Head of Simotes splendidus , nat. size. 



As Major Evans does not describe his specimens, and Upper 

 Burma is so far removed from the Wynaad, I think a further des- 

 cription and figure of Dr. Annandale's lately acquired specimen 

 may serve to clear up any doubt in identity. 



1 Proc. Zool. Soc, 1875, p. 231, and plate xxiii. 



2 Bom. Nat. Hist. Journ., vol. xiii, p. 537. 

 S Vol. xvi, p. 362. 



4 Fauna Brit. Inrl., Reptilia, 1890, p. 310. 



