1871.] J. Anderson — Reptilian Accession to the Indian Museum. 17 



oculars in contact with two temporals. Temporals 2+2, nineteen 

 rows of smooth scales with two apical pores, ventrals with a distinct 

 keel, most marked on the middle and hind part of the body. Anal 

 bifid, ventrals 237, caudals 102. Pale olive brown., marked on the 

 anterior half of the body by broad brown dorsal bands only a little 

 darker than the general colour of the snake, distinct near the 

 anterior part of the body, but obscure behind. Ventral surface 

 pale yellow, faintly marbled with brown on the under surface of the 

 tail. Nine teeth in each maxillary, the last stronger than the others. 

 Ladak, where it is said to be the only snake inhabiting that 

 elevated region. 



Tropidonotus Sikkimensis, n. sp. 



Head of moderate size, obtusely rounded in front ; scales in 1 9 

 rows, feebly keeled, much imbricate on the anterior half of the 

 body and disposed in very oblique rows. Yentrals 166 — 170, caudals 

 64 — 66. Rostral much broader than high. Anterior frontals more 

 than half the size of the posterior pair, obtusely truncated in front. 

 Lateral margins of vertical broader than anterior margin, conver- 

 gent. Posterior margins of occipitals rounded, occipitals longer 

 than vertical, supraciliary nearly as large as vertical. One quad- 

 rangular loreal higher than broad. Praeocular just reaching the 

 upper surface of the head. Three postoculars, eight upper labials, 

 the 4th and 5th entering the orbit. Temporals 2 -f 2 in contact 

 with all the postoculars, the inferior anterior are about 4 times as 

 large as the superior. Two pairs of elongated chin shields, the pos- 

 terior divergent behind, anterior in contact with five lower labials. 

 Twenty-five small teeth in each maxillary, scarcely separated from 

 two strong teeth behind them. Anterior half of the body olive 

 green, darkening posteriorly to olive brown, reticulated posteriorly 

 with white and black, involving the margins of the scales. Under 

 surface pale yellow, the ventrals on the anterior third of the body 

 with large blackish brown spots, that sometimes cover a whole 

 shield ; then the posterior thirds minutely speckled with dark pur- 

 plish brown ; the angles of the ventrals of the same colour. The 

 upper side of the head is uniform olive, but all the upper labials 

 and rostral are pale yellow ; in front of the eye pale olive brown, 

 no black spot below the eye. 



