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Show 1871.] DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILES. 171 rais; but such a character is not of itself sufficient to entitle us to separate species. Hab. Calcutta, rare; foot of Garo Hills. ABLABES RAPPII, Gthr. Eight specimens of this Snake, collected in five weeks, would seem to indicate that the species is not uncommon at Darjeeling. The specimens form two varieties; and the colouring is wonderfully uniform in all. The very young specimen has a broad intensely black collar ; and the rest of the upper surface is pale greyish brown. The collar is perceptible in all the adults. No. 1 , . 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 8 Length. .. 20|" ...... 1m8f ••• 17| ... 18* ... 16* ... 13f .-• 7$ Tail. A ±'l Aii. ^ » 4? 4 3| 3| 11 Ventrals. 190 190 191 198 191 190 190 196 Caudals. 60 75 65 50 73 71 77 70 Darjeeling, 3200 to 4500 feet. From the steep slopes of the Jurta valley. ABLABES COLLARIS, Gray; Gthr. I. c. p. 228. Total length. 294}" 23& 18^ 15f Tail. *8f" ***! *Qt8* 46 Ventrals. 175 180 177 180 Caudals. 88 73 54 106 This is not uncommon at Darjeeling at elevations between 3000 and 4000 feet. I have also received it from the Garo Hills. TRACHISCHIUM FUSCUM, Blyth ; Gthr. I. c. p. 225. I have lately received three specimens of this Snake from an elevation of 5550 feet on the Darjeeling Himalaya. Total length. Tail. Ventrals. Caudals. i4f H" 156 30 121 2 161 43 ll| 1| 141 34 The first specimen has the elongated loreal divided into two on each side. The colour is uniform metallic black, with an iridescent lustre. The third specimen has the centre of the ventrals of a pinkish brown, paling in their posterior margins to a lighter pink. The angles, however, of all of these shields are deep metallic black, and the pinkish centres are more or less speckled with the same colour. .... The short, rather blunt tail of this Snake, its single posterior * Tails imperfect. |