23 



Scales-y27, slightly keeled, 



Ventrals-^ Ahoxxt 220 to 250 ; anal entire. Sub-caudala 

 about 70—100 ; double. 



Colouring — Reddish olive, with about 30 anterior reticu- 

 lated black cross-bands, each enclosing .3 white 

 ocelli on either side ; between the cross-bars is 

 a reticulated lavender pattern ; the whole 

 principally interstitial, fading posteriorly into 

 a broad lateral brown stripe ; neck with two 

 black throat stripes ; black postocular streak. 

 A beautiful snake. 



Habitat — Ceylon and South India. I found it in Mhow. 



THE RED DHAMAN {Coluber radiaius). 



Length — Grows to six feet, tail one-fifth. 



Shape— Head : narrow with long snout. 

 Body : elongate and conrtpressed. 

 Tail : moderate. 

 Eye : moderate with golden iris. 



Head shields — Normal ; one prae ocular and two nasals. 

 The prse-ocular and loreal have a rough parous 

 appearance. Labialei, 9 (4, 5 and 6). 



Scales — 19 : keeled, especially the middle rows. 



Ventrals— 222 to 248 ; anal single. Sub-caudals, 6? — 95. 



Colouring — Bright chestnut darkening posteriorly. 

 Three anterior black dorsal stripes, the upper 

 broad, the middle interrupted, the outer inter- 

 stitial. From the eye radiate three black 

 streaks : one down, one downwards and back- 

 wards, one horizontally along the parietals 

 joining a broad, black nuchal band. 



Habitat— Common in Burma. 



* Cvmftoioma Radicttum (Niobolson), 



