:|4^ P H I D I A. 



and higher than long. The anteorbital is narrower inferiorly than 

 superiorly. There are three postorbitals ; the uppermost is slightly 

 larger than the others. The upper labials, nine in number, gradually 

 increase in size from the first to the seventh, hence diminish again 

 posteriorly, though the eighth and ninth are as large as the fifth and 

 sixth ; the fourth, fifth, and sixth enter into the orbit, the fourth but 

 slightly. The symphyseal is small and triangular, entirely inclosed 

 by the first pair of lower labials. The latter are ten in number, in- 

 creasing in size to the eighth ; the ninth and tenth are narrow and 

 elongated. There are two pairs of mental shields, both narrow and 

 elongated, the posterior pair more so than the anterior one, and 

 diverging from their base, whilst, in the latter pair, they are disposed 

 side by side, and contiguous upon their entire length. The throat is 

 covered with elongated scales, varying in size. 



The dorsal scales are all carinated, and disposed upon nineteen 

 longitudinal rows. The row adjoining the abdominal scutellae is com- 

 posed of broader scales than the rest, which are narrow and lanceo- 

 lated, the more so as they approximate the middle line of the back. 

 They constitute eight or nine rows upon the base of the tail ; the latter 

 is conical and tapering, not forming the third of the entire length. The 

 keels do not extend quite to the tip of the scales, which are slightly 

 notched or else emarginated. The abdominal scutellae are very much 

 developed transversely ; there are a hundred and forty of them, the 

 preanal one being subdivided. The subcaudal scutellae are disposed 

 upon a double series and eighty-six in number. 



Dorsal row nineteen ; abdominal scutellae one hundred and forty ; 

 subcaudal scutellae eighty-six ; total length eighteen inches ; tail five 

 and a half inches. 



The upper surface of the head is blackish-brown, vermiculated with 

 greenish-olive. The labials are yellowish, with a vertical black streak 

 upon their commissure. The body above is greyish-olive, with a double 

 series of black dots along the middle of the back, exteriorly of which, 

 and along the upper portion of the sides, is a series of transversely 

 elongated yellowish or whitish spots, beneath which is another series 

 of black spots. Upon the neck the spots are much larger, making 

 this region appear almost entirely black. The upper part of the tail 

 is blackish-brown. The abdominal region is yellowish, the anterior 

 margin of the scutellae maculated with blackish-brown, from the 

 middle of the body posteriorly : anteriorly the outer portion alone is 



