186 Indian and Malayan Amphibia and Reptilia. [No. 3, 



yellowish white below ; scales quite smooth ; 9 upper labials of 

 which the 5th and 6th enter the orbit, the three first ones are small 

 and of the 4th the upper hind margin is detached, forming a third 

 anteocular, the large anteocular proper being divided into two. 



On the southern slopes of the North West Hymalayas, this species 

 is one of the largest snakes to be met with. I observed it near Kishtwar 

 at an elevation of 6000 feet ; in the Kulu valley it is common between 

 4 and 5000 feet, and in the Sutlej valley beyond Kotegurh I saw it up 

 to 7000 feet, but not far in the interior. Specimens from the latter 

 locality are somewhat different in colour. One, apparently a male, 

 measures 66^ inches, of which the tail is 16£, the scales are all, with 

 the exception of the two outermost rows on either side, very sharply 

 keeled ; the anterior half of the body below is white, on the poste- 

 rior each ventral and subcaudal is black edged. Another specimen 

 68£ inches, of which the tail is 18 inches, is a female ; it has the 

 scales smooth, with the exception of the three median rows which 

 are very faintly keeled ; all the ventrals are black edged in front, 

 the last ones and the subcaudals almost wholly black. On the 

 right side are 8, on the left 9 upper labials ; of the third and fourth 

 labials the hinder margins are detached and form a second small 

 lower pre-ocular. Whether the presence or absence of keels on 

 the scales has anything to do with the sexual distinction, remains 

 yet to be more fully ascertained. 



42. Ptyas hexagonohis* Cantor, sp. 

 Xenelaphis id. apud G u n t h e r, 1. cifc p. 251. 



One full grown specimen from Penang measures 43 inches 

 of which the tail is 13£ inches ; scales in 17 rows, ventrals 200, sub- 

 caudals 118; uniform shining brown above, darker on the head 

 and forepart of the body, paler almost leaden grey posteriorly, 

 below albescent ; six almost vertical blackish bands on either side 

 of the neck, the first is shortest and situated at the angle of the 

 gape. 



I cannot see any sufficient reason for referring this species to a 

 genus distinct from Ptyas. The entire habitus of the snake — 

 moderate (17) number of rows of rather large smoothish scales, 

 * hexahonotus being to all appearance a misprint. 



