364 The Philippine Journal of Science isis 



lateral dots. No variations are noted in the number of pre- 

 oculars, postoculars, anal, or loreals. 



Remarks. — Boulenger ■' has placed Xenodon ancorus (Girard)* 

 as a questioned synonym of this species. The differences in 

 the descriptions are obvious. There are two preoculars (the 

 lower one is very small), and there are eight upper labials with 

 the fourth and fifth entering the eye. It is highly probable 

 that it is merely a variation from normal condition as it other- 

 wise agrees with the normal form. In one of the specimens 

 (No. 820, Bureau of Science collection) we have the increased 

 number of labials on one side and the fourth and fifth labials 

 entering the eye. 



Holarchus maculatus sp. nov. Plate I. 



Type. — No. 40, E. H. T. collection ; Bunawan, Agusan, P. I., 

 August, 1912. E. H. Taylor, collector. 



Description of type. — Rostral moderate, higher than wide; 

 portion visible above less than half its distance from the rostral ; 

 suture between the internasals as large as or larger than the pre- 

 frontal suture; prefrontals much larger than the internasals, 

 in contact laterally with two labials; frontal hexagonal, its 

 length equal to the parietals, a little longer than its distance 

 from the end of the snout; parietals small, as wide as long; 

 nasal not or at least only partially divided; the nostril pierced 

 near the posterior margin; no loreal present; two small pre- 

 oculars, upper twice as large as lower; supraocular not twice 

 as long as wide; two postoculars; temporals 1 + 2 (on left side 

 1-J-l) ; seven upper labials, only the fourth entering the eye; 

 labials in the following order of size: 6, 4, 5, 7, 3, 2, 1; mental 

 small, twice as wide as deep; seven lower labials, three touching 

 the first chin-shields, which are larger than the second pair; 

 eye equal to its distance from the nostril or minutely less. Scales 

 smooth, in 17 rows. Ventrals, 164; anal single; subcaudals 

 double, 54 in number. 



Color in life. — Above pale lavender with a series of twenty- 

 three broad, blackish brown dorsal spots extending laterally to 

 the ventrals." Dorsally they are seven or eight scales wide, 

 but are narrowed laterally to a width of one or two scales; 

 spots are edged with narrow whitish lines; the nuchal stripe 

 runs forward and stops with a blunt point on the frontal scale; 

 a narrow band crosses the head anteriorly and includes the 



^Boulenger, Cat. Sns. Brit. Mus. (1894), 2. 22.5. 

 " I have not seen the type. 



