( 48 ) 



longitudinal series. Ventrals smooth, in ten longitudinal series. 

 (Blyth gives 8 for his ophiseps). Scales very lustrous. Colour 

 above yellowish brown, with some, (during life) shining turquoise 

 blue, spots irregularly distributed. Length fifteen inches. 



Inhabits the Sikkim Himalayas. The Khasi hiUs, and Eastern 

 Bengal (Anderson). Kangoon (Blyth). 



Family Scincid^. 



Head covered with symmetrical shields. Tongue free, exsertile, 

 bilobed at the tip. Scales of the back rounded, quincuncial, 

 imbricate, of the belly and sides similar. No gular or lateral 

 fold. No femoral or inguinal pores. Tail rounded fragUe. 



Section A, scales keeled. 

 TBOPiDOPHORtrs, Bum et Bib. 

 Scales strongly keeled. Tail rounded, the keeled scales forming 

 series of spines. Nostril in a single small shield. Limbs four. 

 Toes five. 



T. Berdmorei, Blyth. 



Aspris Berdmorei, Blyth. J. A. S., 1853, p. 650. 



One very large anterior frontal, larger than the vertical. Two 

 small triangular postfrontals, with their apices only touching. A 

 large but narrow six-sided vertical. Two moderate anterior and 

 two large posterior occipitals, enclosing a minute shield. Four 

 very large superciliaries, with some small scales beneath. Upper 

 labials six, the fourth largest. Lower labials four, the first largest. 

 Keeled scales of the back form parallel ridges. Scales of belly 

 smooth, with crenated margins. Limbs smaU. Colour pale olive 

 brown, with rather irregular broadish oblique, transverse bars 

 of pale red, black margined. Sides, throat, and tail white- 

 spotted. Belly JSrellow. Body 3-50 ; tail 375 = 7-25 inches. 



Inhabits Pegu and Tenasserim. 



My specimens were captured among wet gravel in the stony 

 beds of steams. The scales are duller and less lustrous than is 

 usual in this family. 



