202 Indian and Malayan Amphibia and Rcptilia. [No. 2, 



in his reference to the similarity of this snake with Hypsirhin a, 

 though I don't think that there really exists such a particularly 

 great similarity between both. Among the 50 or 60 specimens of 

 Lycodon aulicus which I saw, and of which I received numerous 

 specimens from the Andamans and Nicobars, I found a good deal 

 of variation (though no essential ones) among the shields of the 

 head. In some specimens only the third and fourth upper labials 

 enter the orbit, in others the fourth and fifth, but as a rule 

 all three enter the orbit. I never found more than one elongat- 

 ed loreal and one anteocular, but there are either two or tliree 

 postoculars, and the differences often occur in one and the same 

 specimen on the two sides of the head. The temporal shields aro 

 usually quite similar to the other scales, generally there are two 

 in contact with the postoculars, and the upper one is somewhat 

 more elongated than the lower. Sometimes the upper is confluent 

 with the occipitals, as likewise one or two shields following it ; in 

 other specimens again, the lower first temporal seems to have be- 

 come obsolete or confluent with the adjoining labials ; in both 

 these cases, there is only one temporal in contact with the postocu- 

 lars, and these differences are again often to be observed on the two 

 sides of the head of one and the same specimen. There are almost 

 invariably nine upper and ten lower labials ; the first pair of the 

 latter forms a suture, followed by two pairs of elongated chin shields, 

 and the sixth lower labials are always the largest ; the anterior 

 frontals are always smaller than the posterior &c., &c. 



Comparing Mr. Theobald's description of Tytleria hypsirhi- 

 noides, there is actually no difference in the structure of the snake 

 from L. aulicus, as Mr. Theobald himself, I believe, now admits. 

 In the specimen referred to X unicohr, there is only one temporal 

 in contact with the postoculars. In both, the dentition is typical, 

 each has an enlarged front fang, followed by small teeth in the 

 maxillary. 



Young specimens usually are variously mottled with yellowish 

 and brown. Some of the Andaman specimens only possess numerous 

 small brown specks, the prevalent colour being yellowish white, 

 others are chiefly brown with large yellowish transverse bands or 

 blotches. 



