1881.] W. T. Blanford— Census of Indian Species. 171 



On this Mr. Blanford remarks: "The figures given are,* I believe, a fair 

 approximation to the truth, and the result is one that I think should make 

 Anglo-Indian naturalists endeavour to improve our knowledge of the 

 fauna. It is scarcely creditable that, in a perfectly accessible country, 

 with facilities for travelling and for living in different parts of the area 

 unrivalled within the tropics, we should remain so ignorant of the zoology. 

 It is ridiculous to suppose that the Indian Goleoptera are scarcely more 

 numerous than the Lepidoptera, that the Hymenoptera (which very proba- 

 bly rival, and may excel, each of the other orders) are only between \ and 

 | as numerous, or that the Neuroptera, of which, Mr. McLachlan tells me, 

 about 1000 are known from Europe, are only represented by 350 species. 

 As to the spiders, it is no exaggeration to say that in most parts of India 

 108 species (which is the total number hitherto described for the whole of 

 India) might be collected in a few days' search. It is to be hoped that 

 the next 5 years will witness a very considerable increase in our knowledge 

 of the fauna of India." 



This paper will be printed in full in the Journal, Part II, No. 4 

 for 1881. 



2. Notes on an apparently undescribed Varanus from Tenasserim, and on 

 other Reptilia and Amphibia. — By W. T. Blakfokd, F. K. S. 



(Abstract.) 



This paper gives a detailed description of a Varanus found in Tenasse- 

 rim in the neighbourhood of Tavoy, which Mr. Blanford cannot identify 

 with any known species. It may be immediately distinguished from all 

 other Indian forms by its peculiar nostril, situated in a single scale, by the 

 larger scales on the upper part of the body, and especially by the scales of 

 the nape being larger than those above the head, or those on the back. 

 There is also a description of a cobra differing in colour and to some slight 

 extent in structure from any Indian form known to Mr. Blanford, the 

 colouration being remarkably similar to that in the Central Asiatic type 

 described by Eichwald under the name of Tomyris oxiana. This snake was 

 found in Gilgit where several birds and mammals belonging to Central 

 Asiatic types occur. 



The paper also contains notes on specimens of Draco tceniopterus found 

 near Tavoy in Tenasserim, and on a species of Pseudophidian, Icthyophis 

 Olutinosus, found near Darjeeling, being the first Pseudophidian recorded 

 from the Himalayas. 



This paper will be published in full in the Journal, Pt. II, No, 4t } for 

 1881. 



