84 Stoliczha, on Kaclili Beptiles. [May, 



by alternating series of black dots whicli in the other forms separate the dark 

 from the light coloration. The pale pinkish olive band on the supraciliary ridge 

 is as broad as in Leithii, while the brown band through the eye is moderately 

 narrow ; lips and chin spotted with black. There is a double dark line on 

 each side of the ventrals which are olive pink in the middle. In one speci- 

 men, measuring 44 inch., of which the tail is 13.25 inch, there are 188 ven- 

 trals and 111 sub-caudals. I found this variety in Kachh, and Dr. Day 

 obtained it in Sind near Sakkar. One specimen from Sind had swallowed 

 a large Trap, megalonyx, 



24. Eetx Johnii, (Ind. Kept. p. 334). 



Common ; nocturnal in its habit and feeding chiefly on worms. It is 

 entirely confined to the low sandy parts of the country. 



The young are often pale coral red, uniform or with indistinct dark con- 

 fluent spots along the back, and 5-6 imperfect black bands towards the end 

 of the body ; much paler below. The old snakes are generally uniform red- 

 dish brown above, often, with a lilac tinge. The tail in the adult becomes 

 erroded and worn ofi" naturally, (so as to resemble the head) , not from mu- 

 tilation by snake-charmers. 



It is scarcely necessary to repeat that the capture of this desert species at 

 9800 feet in Sikkim by Messrs. Schlagintweit rests upon mere imagination. 



25. Naja tripudians. 



Said to be common during the rainy season, but I only saw it on two 

 or three occasions during the winter months. A quite black variety occurs on 

 Pacham and in the other Eun islands. 



26. EcHis CARiNATA, Schneid. 



Dr. Giinther noted the identity of the African E. arenicola with the In- 

 dian snake (Proc. Z. S., 1869, p. 502), about which there can, I think, be no 

 doubt. Among a very large number of specimens I select three for measure- 

 ment : 



Total length. Scales round the body, Yentrals. Subcaudals, 



Young, 10 inches, 30 171 38 



Half grown, 15 „ 82 168 30 



Full grown, 24 „ 33 169 21 



The supraciliary edge is quite as often entire, as it is scaly. 



The keels on the obliquely directed lateral scales are crenated, and the 

 hissing noise of the snake is produced by rubbing these scales against each 

 other (Comp. Payrer in Calcutta Medical Gazette, for Decb. 1870, p. 241). 

 The lateral semilunar white stripes form in adults a continuous undula- 

 ting band. 



The snake is extremely common all through Kachh, and although 

 often found in houses, I scarcely heard of a single case of a bite which, 

 as Dr. Fayrer (loc. cit. p. 241) has shewn, is fatal. I handled numerous 

 specimens myself, having generally found them under stones, and they 



