INDIAN SERPENTS. 
35 
I received another specimen from Lieutenant Whyte, from the same place, where the 
snake would seem to be not uncommon. 
No. NXX. 
COLUBER. 
Abdominal Scuta 1 5 9 '| 
211 . 
Sub-caudal Squama? 52 J 
Called by the natives Mat la Pam. Ally Pam. 
The head small, a little broader than the neck, ovate, obtuse, depressed, covered with ten 
laminae. The first two perforated by the nostrils; next, a solitary, oval, lamina; the second 
pair, orbicular; the two lateral, between the eyes, conical; the central, shield-form, with a 
point; the last pair, semi-cordate. 
The mouth middle size; the jaws nearly equal. The teeth small, reflex; a marginal, and 
two palatal rows, above. 
The eyes large, oval. The nostrils small, not distant. 
The trunk round ; the scales ovate, ciliate, imbricate; but on the belly, orbicular. 
The length, one foot eight inches; the circumference of the neck, near the head, hardly 
exceeds one inch and a quarter ; of the thickest part of the trunk, seldom more than two 
inches and a quarter. The tail , very short, very small, tapers to a sharp point: somewhat 
carinated on the back, and compressed on the sides. 
T1 ie colour , a very dark, changeable, blue, without spots. The three orders of squamae 
nearest the belly, together with the scuta, are of a whitish yellow; the scuta and squamae 
are divided in the middle by a dark-bluish line. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
This snake was caught in the lake of Ankapilly, in one of the traps employed for catch¬ 
ing eels. It was dead when brought to me, so that I had no opportunity of trying its bite; 
but it is regarded by the natives as harmless. 
