162 UfiOPELTID^. 



2. Plectrurus davisonii. (Plate X. fig. 2.) 



Plectrums davidsoni, Beddome, Ann. ^ Mag. N. H. (5) xvii. 1886, 

 p. 25 ; Boukng. Faun. Ind., Rept. p. 271 (1890). 



May eventually have to be united with P. perroteti, from which 

 it differs only in the somewhat more elongate body (39 times the 

 diameter), the higher number of ventrals (180), and the brighter 

 coloration. Yellow, each scale edged with purple. 



Total length 430 millim. 



Anamallays. 



a. 5 (Y. 180; C. 8). Anamallays, 4700 feet. W. Davison, Esq. [P.]. 



(Type.) 



3. Plectrurus guentheri. 



Plectrurus gUntheri, Beddome, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, p. 228, pi. xxvii.; 

 Guntk. Bept. Brit. Ind. p. 193 (1864) ; T?ieob. Cat. Rept. Brit. Ind. 

 p. 136 (1876) ; Beddome, Ann. ^ Mag. N. S. (5) xvii. 1886, p. 26 ; 

 Bouleng. Faun. Ind., Rept. p. 271 (1890). 



Snout obtuse ; rostral small, the portion visible from above shorter 

 than its distance from the frontal ; nasals in contact ; frontal longer 

 than broad. Eye half the length of the ocular. Diameter of body 

 36 to 42 times in the total length. 15 scales round the middle of 

 the body, 17 behind the head. Ventrals not twice as large as the 

 contiguous scales, 171-175. Subcaudals 10-12 ( c? ). Caudal scales 

 pluricarinate ; terminal scute with two superposed bi- or tricuspid 

 transverse ridges. Bright reddish purple above, this colour descend- 

 ing as triangular processes to the sides, which, like the belly, are 

 yellow ; these triangular markings sometimes extending across the 

 beUy. 



Total length 360 miUim. 



Nilgherry Hills, 3500-4000 feet. 



a. d" (V. 174; 0. 12). Walagut, Mow Sispara. Col. Beddome [C.]. 



(Type.) 

 ■h, c. c? (V. 171, 175 ; Walagut. Col. Beddome [P.]. 



0. 10, 12). 



4. Plectrurus aureus. (Plate X. fig. 3.) 



Plectrurus aureus, Beddome, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1880, p. 182, and Ann. 

 8r Mag. N. S. (5) xvii. 1886, p. 26 ; Bouleng. Faun. Ind., Rept. 

 p. 272 (1890). 



Very closely allied to the preceding, the only structural difierence 

 being found in the ventrals, which are a little broader, viz., twice 

 as broad as the contiguous scales. Diameter of body 39 to 44 times 

 in the total length. Ventrals 164r-177 ; subcaudals 8-12. Of a 

 brilliant golden colour, brighter beneath ; the scales edged with 

 violet, with or without a few irregular narrow violet-black cross 

 bars on the back ; the belly much ornamented with violet-black 

 cross bands or alternating spots. 



