196 Indian and Malayan Amphibia and ReptiUa. [No. 3j 



Fam. Psammophid^e. 



55. Psammophis condanurus, M e r r , (G- iin t h., 1. cit. p. 291). 

 Idem, Theobald, Journ. Linn. Soc., Zool. 1867, vol. X., Cat. Burm. Kept., 

 extract, p. 43. 



Phayrea, isabellina, Theob., ibidem, and Catal. Rept. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 

 1868, p. 51. 



The head in this snake is elongately oval, obtusely rounded in 

 front, distinct from neck in young specimens, but a little less so 

 in full grown ones ; scales in 17 rows, smooth, lanceolate,* those of 

 the two last rows on each side rather larger and sub -quadrangular. 

 The rostral shield often reaches to the upper surface of the head, 

 and is posteriorly broadly rounded. The nostril is, in all speci- 

 mens which I have examined, in one long shield ; it is situated 

 almost centrally and a distinct slit divides the lower portion of the 

 nostril, but the upper is entire, though generally a faint groove 

 extends from the nostril to the upper margin of the shield. 



The fourth and last maxillary teeth are remarkably strongly 

 enlarged and grooved at the outer bases, the latter is enclosed in a 

 special pouch. Sometimes the two small teeth between the first 

 and fourth are barely traceable. 



I have received several specimens of this species through my 

 collector from the sub-Hymalayan hills south of Simla (between 2 

 and 5,000 feet), and judging from these, the snake does not appear 

 to be locally rare. The coloration is in all very much like that of a 

 Pegu specimen presented by Mr. Theobald to the Asiatic 

 Society Museum, and differs considerably from that recorded by 

 Dr. G- ii n t h e r. 



Above, isabelline brown, little darker in young than in old 

 specimens. A median yellowish streak runs from the base of the 

 rostral shield along the suture of the two pairs of frontals, divides 

 at the base of the posterior frontals, the two branches continuing 

 in subparallel undulating lines to the end of the occpitals, enclosing 

 two or three irregular yellowish spots, or a short streak, and then 

 extending along the whole of the dorsal region of the body, becoming, 

 however, obsolete at the upper base of the tail. A second yellowish 



* I cannot see to which scales of the body Mr. Theobald refers, when 

 he calls them " hexagonal." 



