192 Indian and Malayan Amphibia and Kept ilia. [No. 3, 



tion of the two outer rows on either side finely but very distinctly 

 keeled. Shields of the head regular, as noted by G ii n t h e r, 

 loreal squarish but somewhat longer than high, temporals 1 + 1 + 2. 

 Colour above dark brown, with an indistinct laterally compress- 

 ed long eliptical mark on the neck and two rows of small black- 

 ish spots along the dorsal line, disappearing altogether on the 

 posterior half of the body. A very distinct yellowish streak from 

 the rostrum along the upper edges of the upper labials is margined 

 with black on either side and disappears on the sides of the neck 

 which has, however, at its base another short white streak trace- 

 able. Below yellowish, all over finely mottled with a dusky green 

 and with another more distinct blackish band on each side ; a coral 

 red band runs along the bases of the ventral shields, and separates 

 the upper brown from the lower yellow coloration. 



A third specimen is a female ; the scales are almost quite smooth, 

 only those of the middle four rows show very indistinct traces of 

 keels ; total length 20 inches of which the tail is 5 inches, ventrals 

 203, subcaudals 86 ; the loreal is on both sides united with the pos- 

 terior nasal ; temporals and all other shields normal, as in the pre- 

 vious specimen. Colour light brown above, with a distinct lateral- 

 ly compressed eliptical mark on the neck, beginning with a single 

 black line on the suture of the occipitals ; several rows of small 

 blackish dots on the anterior part of the body ; the white black 

 edged streak on the side of the head distinct, below uniform yel- 

 lowish white with a dark line on each side, and a very faint trace 

 of reddish along the bases of the ventrals. 



The examination of these specimens appears to indicate that in 

 this species the males have often the scales more distinctly keeled 

 than the females. That the loreal is united in the female to the 

 post nasal is most likely only accidental ; similar cases of the head 

 shields becoming confluent are by no means rare in other Colxj- 

 brid^e. The male seems to be darker in coloration and with a 

 more distinct coral red lateral band, than it is in the female. The 

 species does not appear to be common, but it occurs almost through- 

 out the Central and North West Hymalayas, Dr. J e r d o n hav- 

 ing obtained it also in Cashmir. There can be no doubt that 

 Steindachner's Zamenis is identical with T. platyceps, his 



