32 HALYS HIMALAYANUS. 



series of three large temporal shields, the two hinder of which form a 

 portion of the lip ; the space between these temporals and the occipital 

 is covered with small scales. Body of moderate length, rounded ; its 

 middle is covered with twenty-three series of strongly keeled scales, 

 Ventrals 162-166; anal entire; sub-caudals 43-51, The tail termi- 

 nates in a long spine. Dark brown, with large band-like spots across 

 the back ; these spots are very indistinct, scarcely differing from the 

 ground colour,, and becoming visible only by their black edges ; belly 

 almost entirely black, marbled with yellowish. A broad blackish brown 

 band runs from the eye along the series of temporal shields to the angle 

 of the mouth ; it has a narrow black and white edge above and below, 

 and is better defined in the young individual than in the old one. 

 Lower labials marbled with yellowish and blackish," 



Dr. Stoliczka says — " Especially between 5000 and 8000 feet, but 

 on the Hatu Mountain near Kotegurh, and about Serahan, I observed it 



as high as 10,000 feet. It feeds principally on mice The upper 



ground colour of this snake varies from brownish-green to almost 

 brownish-black, but generally with some lighter spots, bands or 

 marblings, and that of the lower part is of a greenish-yeUow purple 

 tinge, the purplish colour sometimes predominating, especially on the 

 sub-caudals ; the whole of the lower side is more or less strongly marbled 

 with greenish black ; rarely is the under side nearly all black, but the 

 chin is always yellowish. The upper labials are yellowish white, and in 

 continuation of this colour, there is in younger specimens a very 

 conspicuous whitish lateral band occupying the base of the ventrals, and 

 the adjoining row of scales. In old specimens this lateral band is only 



indicated on the throat, becoming obsolete on the body AU the 



specimens which I examined had only twenty-one series of scales. One 

 nearly full grown, from the neighbourhood of Kotegurh (north-east of 

 Simla) measures twenty-five inches and a quarter, of which the tail is 

 three and a quarter, terminating with a very small single sub-caudal 

 scale. Ventrals 160 ; sub-caudals 42." It is " very common over the 

 north-west Himalayas." (Fayrer.) It is "met with on the paths 

 generally after rains, and in shady places between overhanging forest 

 trees. " (Stoliczka, ) 



