218 BRITISH SERPENTS. 
frontal. The number of small shields in front of the 
frontal. The arrangement and number, if any, of the 
small shields between the frontal and the supra-ocular.) 
Lip-scales, or labials—Nine on the right side, eight on 
the left side, the fifth and sixth being fused on the left. 
(The labials vary greatly, and should always be noted.) 
Shields round cycs,—Ten in number. 
Body scaling.—Ventral shields number 144. Sub- 
caudal shields number 52 pairs, and the terminal 
conical shield. 
Colouration.—This specimen exhibits the usual female 
colouring in this locality: brown markings on an olive- 
green body, mottled belly, yellowish-white throat, and 
bright orange colour on the under surface of the tail. 
On dissection.—(1f dissected note the contents of the 
stomach, and the stage of development of young if a 
pregnant female, also the number of eggs developing.) 
fecord of spectmen.—Private collection, No. 4, year 
1901, preserved in formalin solution. (Specimens 
may be preserved in various ways. Methylated spirit 
is frequently used, but is not very satisfactory: the 
specimens shrink considerably in it after a time, and 
the colours become dull. Absolute alcohol exhibits 
them best, but is expensive if used on a large scale. 
Formalin is not a good preservative for snakes, though 
it is comparatively cheap.' Serpents should always be 
preserved in flud, never stuffed, as they never look 
natural in this latter way.) 
' Formalin is apt to turn snakes blackish, 
