20 
THE THANATOPHIDIA OE INDIA. 
those on the crown of the head and on the temples small, 
strongly carinated. Yentrals 164-169; sub-caudals 54-60. 
Grass green above, tail yellowish green; a more or less distinct 
yellowish line runs along the outer series of scales, and is some¬ 
times absent. Lower parts greenish white.” 
This species is found in Bengal, Sikkim, probably the Himalaya 
generally, and in Burmah. It resembles T. gramineus very closely. 
Dr. Stoliczlia says (< Journal Asiatic Society, partii., No. 3 of 1870, 
page 218), the distinction is chiefly in the head, which is short 
and rather broad and stout, and in the large size of the supra- 
ciliaries. He says also that “ there are usually one or two azygos 
shields ; very rarely there is no azygos shield, but in such a case 
the supra-nasals just touch each other, not forming a broad suture 
as in T. erythrums. 
“ The general colour is usually green, sometimes there are 
large blackish spots on the sides ; the lateral line is either well 
developed, white margined with coral red below, or it is absent. 
Tail pale, ruddy above, usually equal to one-sixth the total 
length.” Dr. Stoliczka. speaks of a young specimen from the 
hills, at a height of about 6000 feet, north-east of Simla. 
The Trimeresurus carinatus, T. gramineus, and T. erythrurus re¬ 
semble each other very closely ; apparently there is no certainty 
in either the number of scales, or in the presence of the side line, 
or the rufous tint of the tail. I follow the order of authorities 
on Opliiology in describing them as different species. 
I have had no opportunity as yet of testing the poisonous 
power of this snake. 
Trimeresurus anamallensis. 
The following is Gunther’s description of this snake :—“ The 
second upper labial shield forms the front part of the facial pit; 
generally a small shield between the supra-nasals. Scales on 
the head and on the body more or less distinctly keeled, in 
twenty-one series. Yentrals 148-158 ; sub-caudals 51-55. 
Ground-colour generally yellowish green, with a dorsal series of 
large rhombic black spots, each spot subdivided by, or variegated 
with yellow. Upper side of the head marbled with black in 
adult specimens, uniform greenish in young ones ; a black or 
brown band runs from the back edge of the eye to the angle ot 
the mouth ; supraciliary with one or two black cross streaks. 
Belly yellowish green, with numerous yellow and black spots 
along its side. Tail black, with yellow and green spots. 
Young specimens may be recognised by the dark temple-streak; 
but nearly all the other markings are very indistinct, and the 
ground colour is a reddish olive; tail with white extremity. 
“A specimen received with others from the same locality 
has a brownish-purple ground colour, with a dorsal series of 
brown spots ; belly marbled with purple ; tail black, with irre¬ 
gular greenish rings and with some indistinct small yellowish 
spots. This specimen also has the supraciliary divided into 
two, but, nevertheless, we consider it merely a variety. Of 
about a dozen specimens from the Anamaliay Mountains the 
largest is 24 inches long, tail measuring 3J inches. 
Gunther adds :—“ I have for some time considered this species 
as possibly identical with Trigonoceplialus ( Cophias ) mala- 
baricus, n. s. ? Jerdon, Journ. As. Soc. Beng., 1854, xxii. p. 
523, which is characterized thus:—‘Yery closely allied to 
T. nigromarginatus. Has twenty-one rows of smooth scales. 
Yentrals 145-149; sub-caudals 48—53. Green above, with 
brown transverse and zigzag markings. Up to 2 feet long 
nearly. Not uncommon in all the forests of the west coast.’ 
“ It is almost impossible to recognise a species from such a 
diagnosis. Moreover Mr. Jerdon describes the scales as smooth, 
whilst they are keeled in our species, as in all the Trimeresuri. 
Mr. Elliot possesses a drawing of a young specimen, named T. 
malabaricus, Jerd. It resembles our species in coloration, but 
has a white, black-edged temple-streak instead of a black one. 
Mr. Jerdon does not mention either a black or a white temple- 
streak.” 
I am indebted to Dr. Sliortt of Madras for three specimens of 
T. anamallensis. 
A is 19 inches long, of which the tail is 2f, and If inch 
in girth. It is of a light greenish colour, with irregularly 
rhomboidal black or dark brown marks along the back. 
The head is beautifully marked, marbled with the same colours, 
and there is a distinct dark line leading from the eye to the 
commissure of the mouth. 
It has on the neck 22-26 rows of shields, middle of the body 
23, further on 21, and posteriorly 16 rows. This is note¬ 
worthy, as Gunther says “simply in 21 series.” 155 ventral 
shields, 57 sub-caudals, very closely the number given by 
Gunther. 
B, a much larger specimen, 27 inches long, of which the 
tail is 3J. It is 2f inches in girth. The body colour is much 
the same as in A, but the dark markings are comparatively 
indistinct. The head in each specimen is very broad and tri¬ 
angular. B has 28 series of scales on the neck, and in the 
middle of the body only the regular number, 21. There is 
nothing else peculiar about it. 
C is a large specimen, about the same size as B, but much 
decomposed. Its coloration is darker than that of A and B, 
but otherwise all the same. 
All three have the supraciliary divided into two shields, as 
noticed by Gunther. 
Trimeresurus monticola. 
Parias maculata. Gray. 
There are two fine specimens from the Indian Museum before 
me, both from Darjeeling. One is 23 inches in length and 3 
inches in girth. The tail is 3f inches in length. 
The other is 27 inches in length and 2 in girth. 
The second upper labial forms the front of the pit. There 
are two small shields behind the nostril, sometimes a small 
azygos shield below this. The scales on the head are smooth, 
those on the body slightly carinated. There are 23 series. Ven- 
trals 137-141; sub-caudals 41. The supraciliaries are very 
large. 
The coloration varies, in one specimen it is pale brown, with 
a vertebral row of large, square, dark brown blotches. Along 
the sides a row of small dark spots; a pale temple-streak. 
Belly dark mottled. 
The larger male specimen, which is also from Darjeeling, is 
of a dark brown or almost blackish-ash colour with the rhom¬ 
boid patches along the vertebrse. 
There is a peculiar mark in the middle of the neck like a U, 
which is of a yellowish or whitish colour. 
This is a Himalayan species; both the Museum specimens 
referred to came from Darjeeling, but it is found also in Nepal, 
Sikkim, and probably in Khasya and other parts of the Eastern 
Himalayan range. 
I have also received a very fine living female specimen of 
T. monticola from Dr. Stoliczka, who brought it with him from 
Darjeeling ; it was captured in October near a house in Bungby, 
5000 feet above the sea, and about twelve miles S.E. of 
Darjeeling. It is 29 inches long, of which the tail measures 
3 inches, and at the thickest part of the body 3J inches in girth. 
It is of a cinnamon-grey colour, beautifully marked with square 
dark spots; the head is dark brown, with a metallic lustre, 
and the U-shaped mark on the neck very distinct. There are 
22 series of slightly carinated scales on the neck. The fangs 
are moderately large. The eye small, with vertical pupil. 
The supra-nasals are separated by two small shields. 
