290 Notices and Descriptions of various Reptiles. [No. 3, 



the scales black-margined and sprinkled over with minute black 

 spots, and the entire length marked with about 24 black-edged white 

 semi-annuli j beneath, the black spots are more developed than in the 

 last variety, and are more or less continuous towards the vent : the 

 usual head-markings distinct. Two others, from Goalpara and Lower 

 Asam, nearly resemble the last, but have no white semi-annuli, nor 

 markings underneath the tail or anterior third of body. Others, again, 

 from various parts, including central* and S. India and Ceylon, also 

 the Tenasserim provinces, have the upper-parts more or less dark, 

 and variously freckled, often with imperfect semi-annuli placed near 

 together, and alternately distinct and comparatively obscure : the 

 under-parts commonly spotless ; and sometimes the collar quite 

 black. A single young specimen from Ceylon has 3 rows of black 

 spots continued upon each scuta as far as the vent, where the medial 

 row ceases, and the other two rows are continued to the tip of the 

 tail : above, the black semi-annuli are divided, and the halves placed 

 alternately to the right and left, becoming gradually indistinct upon 

 the hinder half. Upon a first view, this might be considered a dis- 

 tinct species ; but we can perceive no structural variation from 

 the rest, and intermediate varieties most probably occur. In all, 

 save the first, the peculiar markings of the head readily indicate 

 the species ; as do the rostral and anterior frontal plates from other 

 Indian serpents. 



Coluber nigromarghs-atus, nobis, *-. s. Nearly affined to C* 

 radiatus, Schlegel, but attaining the size of C. mucosus, (L., v. 

 JBlumenbachii, Merrem) : our largest specimen measuring 7| ft. 

 long, of which the tail is 2 ft. 1 in. Colour a bright pea-green 

 (changing in spirit to blue), paler below, each scale of the upper- 

 parts margined with black. Upon the shields of the crown the 

 black margins are extremely slight though present, and they gra- 

 dually increase in breadth posteriorly until about the middle of the 

 entire length, when the two colours resolve into four black alternat- 

 ing with three narrower blue streaks which are continued to the end 

 of the tail. Eye larger than in C. mttcosus, much larger than in C. 

 radiatus. One large superior and one small inferior prse-ocular 

 plate ; and a single fraenal, the latter as in C. radiatus, to which 

 * Animerkantak, towards source of Nerbudda ; 3700 ft. elevation. 



