OCR Text |
Show 1871.] DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILES. 173 oculars, the lower one resting on the suture of the fifth and sixth labials, and both in contact with two other elongated temporals. Temporals 24-2, or 2 + 3, or 2 + 24-3. Eight upper labials, the fourth and fifth entering the orbit; ten lower labials. Two pair of chin-shields; the anterior pair considerably larger than the posterior pair, in contact with five labials ; the posterior pair separated by two small scales. Nineteen rows of scales, not elongate; those on the dorsal surface faintly keeled, those on the sides smooth. Ventrals with distinct indications of a keel, and bent up the side; anal entire ; ventrals 222 to 232 ; caudals 68 to 76. General colour dark olive-brown, many of the scales with pale or white margins, on the intervals between a double series of vertebral dark olive-brown spots that coalesce a short way behind the neck into a vertebral series of large black figure-of-8-like spots connected with each other on either side by a faint dark lateral line of the breadth of two scales. On the third and fourth series of scales from the ventrals there is a longitudinal line of elongated black spots with light centres, connected with each other by loops, like the links of a chain. Both these and the dorsal line of spots, which commence about half an inch behind the head, disappear about the middle of the body, the lateral line being only represented by ill-defined short black lines. The white edgings, however, to certain of the scales remain, and become gradually defined, from before backwards, into transverse white or brick-red lines, with black margins, which become most marked on the hinder quarter of the trunk and on the tail. The under surface anteriorly is yellowish, especially bright on the upper labials and chin ; but it is irregularly marked anteriorly with black spots, which become more diffused posteriorly until the whole of the under surface becomes almost black. In a rather young specimen from Darjeeling the rostral is decidedly broader than high, while in a Garo-Hill specimen it is as markedly higher than broad. One specimen has the posterior frontals confluent; and another has them united throughout half their extent, while a third has one of the anterior frontals partially divided. In one specimen a very small portion of the first labial on one side is separated as a labial; and the inferior praeocular on the same side appears to be a separated portion of the third and fourth labials, as its upper margin is marked by a slight notch in its middle, thus indicating its twofold character. I have also indicated in the above description the variations observable in the other head-shields. The Darjeeling specimens have usually more triangular than quadrangular loreals and prsefrontals, and more elongate loreals than those from the Garo Hills; but the similarity of the specimens from both these localities is so marked that it would be unjustifiable to separate them. M r . Theobald included Zamenis fasciolatus under this species. The specimen was from Southern India; but I have since received examples from the neighbourhood of Calcutta agreeing with it in every particular. The coloration is wonderfully persistent. |