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Show 576 MR. p. L. SCLATER ON BIRDS [May 21, May 21, 1878. F. D. Godman, Esq., F.Z.S., in the Chair. The following papers were read :- 1. Description of a new Genus of Snakes of the Family Calamaridce, from Southern India. By Lieutenant- Colonel R. H. B E D D O M E , C.M.Z.S. [Received April 29, 1878.] XYLOPHIS, n. gen. Body cylindrical, slender; head short, not distinct from neck, gradually narrowed forwards and pointed ; eye very small, with round pupil; tail about one seventh of the total length; maxillary teeth very numerous, equal; the two palatine rows very conspicuous, and the teeth slightly longer behind ; upper labials four, the first very minute, the second and third enter the orbit, fourth in contact with a large temporal; rostral very small; an elongate loreal gradually narrowed behind replaces anteocular and occupies all the space from rostral to eye; nasals simple, very small; frontals only one pair, large, a very small superciliary shield and a similar postocular. Scales smooth, without apical groove, in fifteen rows ; anal single ; subcaudals broad, bifid, or a few occasionally entire. XYLOPHIS INDICUS, n. sp. General colour of a uniform brown like an earthworm, but beautifully iridescent; length 9| inches, of which the tail is 1| inch: vertical, pointed behind, rounded in front; occipitals elongate; ventrals about 136 ; subcaudals about 26, bifid, or a few of them entire; tail ending in a blunt point. Hab. The dense heavy evergreen forests on the mountains at the south of Cumbum Valley, Madura district; elevation 5000 feet. Under old logs along with Uropeltidae. The specimen, which is unique, has been forwarded to the British Museum. 2. Reports on the Collections of Birds made during the Voyage of H.M.S. f Challenger/-No. X. On the Birds of the Atlantic Islands and Kerguelen's Land, and on the Miscellaneous Collections. By P. L. SCLATER, M.A., F.R.S. [Received May 2, 1878.] In this paper, which concludes the preliminary reports on the terrestrial birds collected during the voyage of the «Challenger,' I |
