Catalogue of Reptiles. 45 



a. b. type specimens. Assam. W. Robinson, Esq. 



Color "sinning dull black, brilliant and iridescent with white 

 specks on side." 



This species was originally described most imperfectly by Mr. Blyth 

 (I. c.) but it differs so from Galamaria, that I am forced to refer it to a 

 new genus, bearing the name of my eminent friend. 



GROTEA, gen. nov. 

 Scales smooth in seventeen rows. Loreal one, small. Frontals two, 

 transverse, one anterior, one posterior. Pupil round. 

 G. bicolor, Blyth. 



Calamaria bicolor, Bhjth, J. A. S. XXIII. 289. 



C. hypoleuca, Blyth. 



Ahlabcs bicolor, Blyth, apud Giinther? 



Nostril pierced in the centre of a large nasal. Loreal small. Ros- 

 tral broad. Anterior frontal transverse, two-thirds as broad as ros- 

 tral. Posterior frontal transverse, broader than rostral. Ante-ocular 

 one, small. Postoculars two, small. Superciliaries small. Vertical five- 

 sided, broader than long, base in front, sides next to base only as long 

 as superciliaries. Occipitals large. Upper labials five. Third higher 

 than the rest, enters the orbit ; fifth largest. Anal bifid. Eye small. 



Colour " dusky plumbeous above, buffy white below, * gradually 

 blending." 



It is quite impossible to retain this species as a Galamaria, and 

 I have accordingly separated it as a new genus, named after the 

 present indefatigable President of our Society. Giinther refers this 

 species to his Ablabes bicolor, but he describes the nostrils as between 

 " two small shields" which is not the case in our type. Giinther seems 

 to make " Ablabes" the receptacle of forlorn species of OakmcMda. 



TRACHISCHIUM, Gunther. 



Scales smooth, in thirteen rows. Posterior frontals, united. Pupil 

 round. 



T. fuscum, Blyth. 



Calamaria fusca, Blyth, J. A. S XXIII. 288. 

 Trachischium fuscum, Blyth, (Museum label.) 

 Galamaria {and trachischium) obscuro-striata, Blyth. 



Anterior frontals minute. Posterior frontal single, very large, larger 

 than vertical ; vertical rather small, pointed behind, truncate in front. 

 Superciliary large, one-third as large as vertical. Loreal small, elongate: 

 ante-ocular one, post-ocular one, rather larger: upper labials six. 1st 

 very small, 3rd and 4th enter the orbit, 6th largest. Anal bifid. " Iri- 

 descent brown-black, under parts particularly lustrous." Obscurely 

 streaked also with pale lines, but these are now faded and obsolete. 



