PLATURUS FISCHERI. 



Giinther describes this species as follows : — 



" No azygos shield between the posterior frontals, scales of the front 

 part of the trunk in nineteen longitudinal series ; ventral shields 232- 

 241. Trunk surrounded by from thirty-three to thirty-six black rings, 

 which are broader than the interspaces. A black band crosses the 

 occiput and extends forward over the vertical plate and over the lower 

 jaw, but, generally, it is not confluent with the next following ring. 

 The upper part of the snout yellow; upper labials black." 



Dr. John Anderson, the distinguished Director of the Indian Museum, 

 Calcutta, furnished Sir Joseph Fayrer with the following description of 

 what he considered to be a specimen of P. Fischeri in the Museum : — 

 " The specimen which I provisionally refer to this species has nineteen 

 rows of smooth scales round the fore part of the trunk, in longitudinal 

 series, and 235 ventrals. There is no azygos shield between the posterior 

 frontals, and in all of these characters it agrees with this species. But 

 on comparing the head with Giinther's drawing, I find that the anterior 

 frontals in my specimen differ from it, in being long and pointed 

 anteriorly, and considerably larger than the posterior pair, and in the 

 vertical being proportionally larger than in P. Fischeri, and the 

 occipitals larger and more pointed. It has one prae-, and two post-oculars, 

 and the third and fourth labials are below the eye. Two pairs of large 

 chin-shields, the posterior shields with a large scale between their 

 posterior extremities. It also differs from P. Fischeri in having fifty-six 

 black rings round the trunk instead of thirty-six, but I do not attach 

 much importance to this, as P. scutatus shows about an equal varia- 

 tion ; but at the same time, Giinther's statement that his eight 



