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ill a long fork, retractile into a sheath at its base. Scales on back 

 small, equal, on the belly squares in cross bands. Toes five, and 

 claws on aU feet. 



Vabantjs, Merrem. 



The nostrils in an oblique slit situated nearly midway between 

 eye and the extremity of snout. Scales elliptic, small subtan- 

 gential. Tail vertically compressed, with a crest of keeled scales. 

 Throat with a transverse fold. Claws five on all feet. 



V. flavescens, Gray. 



Nostrils nearer the nose than eye. Superciliary scales of 

 unequal size, the outer being smaller than the inner. Scales of 

 the upper parts strongly keeled, those of the belly smooth in 

 65 — 70 transverse series between the gular fold and loins. Colour 

 greenish or brownish olive, with irregular dark markings, con- 

 fluent into crsss-bands on back and tail. Throat with irregular 

 dark transverse bands. 



Attains to four feet in length, of which the tail is more than 

 half. Toes shorter than in its congeners. 



Inhabits Bengal, The North-Western Provinces, The Panjab, 

 and Birmah. 



V. dracsena L. 



Nostrils midway between the nose and eye. Superciliary 

 scales small. Scales of the back not keeled : of the beUy smooth 

 in 85 — 95 transverse series. Colour brownish olive, black dotted, 

 each dot formed of a single scale. 



Attains to four feet in length, of which the tail is three-fifths. 



Inhabits Bengal, The North-Western Provinces, The Panjab, 

 Central and Southern India, Ceylon and Birmah. 



V-. lunatus, Gray. 

 Nostrils midway between the nose and eye. Superciliary 

 scales small. Scale! of back not keeled ; of the belly smooth in 

 105 transverse rows. Colour brownish olive. Neck, body and 

 tail with broad transverse bands the first formed by a dark 

 streak from either eye meeting on the neck, the angle being 



