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Show 1895.] BATRACHIANS P R O M ADEN. 657 the length of the frontal and one half of the praefrontal. In T. obtusus and T. rhinopoma the supraocular is excluded from contact with the praefrontal by the praeocular, while in T. guentheri it touches the praefrontal and excludes the praeocular from contact with the frontal. There are nine upper labials, but exceptionally, asymmetrically, ten ; but in the other two species the number is unusually ten, and exceptionally eight, nine, or eleven. The third, fourth, and fifth, or exceptionally the fourth and fifth labials enter the orbit, whereas the fourth, fifth, and sixth in T. obtusus, and the third, fourth, and fifth, fourth and fifth, or the fourth, fifth, and sixth in T. rhinopoma enter the eye. The chin-shields are narrower aud more elongated than in these two species. There are 21 scales round the body, but 23 in T. obtusus and T. rhinopoma. The anal, in this species and in T. rhinopoma, is invariably single, but it is always divided in T. obtusus. Ventrals 235-274 ; in T. rhinopoma 268-280 ; and in T. obtusus 257-272. The caudals iu T. guentheri are 66-72; in T. rhinopoma 76-82 and in T. obtusus 66-81. The general colour is exactly as in T. obtusus in the majority of the specimens, but in one specimen from Muscat the body-colour is greyish with numerous narrow black markings, interrupted bands, becoming indistinct posteriorly, and separated from each other by narrow whitish interspaces or lines. The upper labials are slightly orange-yellow with blackish margins; ventrals pure white. This species was obtained some years ago at Muscat by Dr. Jayakar, and my collector who accompanied Mr. Bent on his expedition to the Hadramaut brought back two specimens. The invaluable presence of an undivided anal and of 21 rows of scales round the body of these Eastern Arabian snakes seem to entitle them to specific rank. At the same time, if a single specimen had shown any tendency to division in the anal, or had there been any variation in the number of the body-scales, I should have hesitated to follow the course I now adopt and would have regarded them as varieties of T. obtusus. To bring out the differences that exist between the three species, I append the following tables (pp. 658, 659). I have much pleasure in connecting Dr. Giinther's name with the species. " These two specimens were obtained in a sun-dried brick wall at Lahej. They were found within a few inches of each other, and each of them had breakfasted on a sparrow. In one the bird was quite fresh, and had evidently been recently caught, while in the other it was partially digested." 21. ECHIS CARINATA, Schneider. 1 2 • Lahej. Snout to vent 436 ; tail 50. V. 159 ; A. 1; C. 30. Scales 28 ; upper labials 10. Scales round eye 17 and 18. Nasals 2. " This, I believe, to be the only venomous snake found at Aden, where, and also inland, it is not uncommon." PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1895, No. XLII. 42 |