162 OP HID I A. 



oculars are well developed, having the form of an elongated obtnse 

 triangle, narrowest anteriorly. There are two postorbitals ; the upper- 

 most subquadrangular, larger than the lower, which is narrow and 

 rounded. Two elongated, plate-like, temporal shields, and several 

 others, scale-like, may be observed. The upper labials are eight in 

 number, the fourth and fifth forming the inferior rim of the orbit ; the 

 fifth, sixth, and seventh are the largest ; the fourth and eighth are 

 nearly equal (in size, not in shape), the anterior three being the 

 smallest. There are ten, mayhap eleven, lower labials, and a small 

 triangular symphyseal, inclosed by the first pair of labials ; the second, 

 is smaller than the first and third, the fifth and sixth being the largest. 

 The posterior pair of mental shields is more slender than the anterior 

 pair. 



The body is elongated, subcylindrical, diminishing gradually in thick- 

 ness backwards. The tail is subconical, elongated, and slender. The 

 scales are smooth, disposed upon nineteen longitudinal series on the 

 body, eight upon the base of the tail, and four only towards its tip. 

 The series adjoining the abdominal scutellae are larger than on the 

 back 'j their form is elongated, sublanceolated on the body, subrhom- 

 boid, and shorter upon the tail. The abdominal scutellae are of 

 moderate development, and slightly convex posteriorly ; the preanal 

 is subdivided. The subcaudal scutellae are disposed upon a double 

 row ; their numbers, as observed upon two specimens, are as follows : 



Abdominal scutellae 189 and 199 ; subcaudal scutellae 101 and 106. 

 Total lengths three feet two inches and two feet three inches ; tail 

 eleven inches and seven and a half inches. 



The upper surface of thehead is deep brown. A dorsal band of the 

 same color extends from the occiput to the tip of the tail, covering 

 sometimes five, at others three, series of scales ; when only three, the 

 adjoining row, on either side, is alternately dotted with white and 

 black. A narrow band of brown extends from the loral region across 

 the eye, along the temporal region and the neck, becoming sometimes 

 very obsolete along the sides of the body. The space not covered by 

 these bands is yellowish-brown ; every scale bearing a black spot. 

 A superciliary bright yellowish fillet passes over the temporal region, 

 separating the dorsal from the lateral deep-brown band. The labials 

 are of a bright yellow, occasionally margined with black. The abdo- 

 minal region is yellowish-white, spotted with blackish, the spots being 



