64 THE POISOKOUS SNAKES OF INDIA. 



Nasal not touching the rostral or the 1st labial. ]Sye. Diameter 

 rather less than distance to nostril, and distinctly less than distance 

 to labial margin ; 3 to 4 rows of scales between it and the 

 supralabials. Supralabials 13, the 5th and 6th largest. Infralabials 

 4, the 4th largest, and in contact with two scales behind Sublin- 

 guals. One pair. Costals in 23 to 25 rows in midbody. Ventrals 

 not ridged. Subcaudals divided. 



Distribution. — Persia and Baluchistan. 



Poison. — Nothing known. 



Dimensions. — Grows to about 3 feet. 



Colour. — Greyish brown with six series of large, ill-defined, 

 blackish spots which alternate with those in the adjacent rows. 

 The two median are often more or less confluent to form short 

 transverse bars. An ill-defined blackish broad streak from the eye 

 through the gape, and another less distinct shorter band from the 

 lore to the lip. Belly whitish with grey spots. 



Captain Jolly, I.M.S., tells me it is common about Kacha Thana 

 in Baluchistan. 



PSEUDOCERASTES BICORNIS-Smith's Viper. 



The description of this new viper is based on an examination of 

 the head and forebody of the only specimen known (now preserved 

 in the museum of the Bombay Natural History Society), and notes 

 on the complete snake in life supplied me by Major O. A. Smith. 

 The specimen, a female, was encountered at Khajuri Kach, above 

 Gwaleri kolal in the Gomal Pass, Waziristan. Major Smith tells 

 me he would not have noticed it had not its loud hiss attracted his 

 attention from a distance of about 4 yards. 



Lepidosis. Bostral. — More than twice as broad as high, in 

 contact with 8 small scales. Supranasal. An enlarged shield 

 placed above the nostrils but not actually bordering it. Supraocu- 

 lars not or hardly enlarged, but two scales are somewhat elongate> 

 and free. These are now depressed, but Major Smith says in life 

 thej'^ were erect, and formed the so-called " horns." They are 

 separated from the ocular ring by a row of small scales. No other 

 enlarged or modified shields above. Nasals. — Two, the anterior 

 and larger is not in contact with the rostral, and forms about 

 three-fourths of the circumference of the nostrils ; t^& posterior ^ 



