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Show 1875.] DR. A. GUNTHER ON INDIAN REPTILES. 233 the fifth only entering the orbit. Ventrals 187; subcaudals 44. Pupil vertical. Whitish, with a vertebral series of large subqua-drangular square spots ; a dark-brown horizontal stripe behind the eye; and a spot of the same colour below the eye. Lower parts whitish. A single specimen, 12 inches long (tail l| inch), is in the late Dr. Jerdon's collection. It is rather shrivelled; and unfortunately no record as regards the locality where it was found was placed on the bottle. He obtained it probably within the Himalayan region or in Khassya. DIPSAS NUCHALIS. Allied to D. gokool, but with a widely different coloration. Scales in twenty-one series, those of the vertebral series much enlarged, subhexagonal. Ventrals 233-242 ; anal single ; subcaudals 90. Eye of moderate size. Loreal square ; one praeocular, just reaching the upper surface of the head ; two postoculars. Eight upper labials, the third, fourth, and fifth of which enter the orbit. Temporals 2 + 3 + 3 ; a small odd temporal is intercalated between the anterior temporals and the postoculars. Upper parts light purplish brown, with a vertebral series of brown transverse spots which gradually become indistinct towards the middle of the length of the body, and further on disappear entirely. The first spot on the neck is a narrow transverse bar. An oblique narrow black temple-streak. Upper parts of the head nearty uniform brown. Lower parts yellowish, densely powdered with purplish brown. Several specimens were found by Col. Beddome in the forests on the western coast of Malabar ; the largest is 44 inches long, the tail measuring 10 inches. OPHITES SEPTENTRIONALIS. Scales in seventeen rows, only those in the middle of the back feebly keeled. Ventrals 214 ; anal single ; subcaudals 83. Anterior frontals short, much broader than long; vertical five-sided, rather longer than broad. Nostril wide, situated between the two nasals, the anterior frontal, and the first labial. Loreal narrow, much longer than deep. One praeocular just reaching the upper surface of the head ; two postoculars; eight upper labials, the third, fourth, and fifth entering the orbit. Temporals 2 + 3. Black, trunk witb thirty narrow white rings, only about two scales wide ; the first at some distance behind the head. Lower parts white ; subcaudals marbled with black. One specimen from the late Dr. Jerdon's collection, without indication of its habitat. But there is no doubt that he obtained it during his last journey through the northern parts of India. It is 83 inches long, the tail measuring 8 inches. TRIMERESURUS JERDONII. (Plate XXXIV.) The second upper labial shield forms the front part of the facial pit; one or more small shields between the supranasals. Scales on |
