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Show 176 DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILES. [Feb. 21. be a very variable one, and to become much modified by age in the character of the colouring of its head and body. This is the Snake commonly seen, along with Eryx johnii, in the possession of the snake-charmers of the North-west Provinces. ZAMENIS BRACHYURUS, Gthr. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 3, xviii. p. 27; Blanford, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1870, p. 372. I have one specimen of this Snake from the S.E. Berars, agreeing in every particular with the description of the type, except that the colouring appears to be a little darker, which may be explained by the circumstance that it reached m e shortly after its capture, whereas Gunther's type had in all probability been a much longer time in spirit. TROPIDONOTUS QUINCUNCIATUS, Schleg. ; Gthr. /. c. p. 260. Four postoculars on one side, and three on the other. The fourth is a separated portion of the fourth and fifth upper labials. Hab. Nazeerah, Assam, Agra. The Agra specimen was chequered with bright red and olive-green when alive. TROPIDONOTUS STOLATUS, L.; Gthr. /. c. p. 267- Hab. Nazeerah, Assam. TROPIDONOTUS PLUMBICOLOR, Cantor; Gthr. /. c. p. 272. I procured a specimen of this species about twenty miles to the west of Galle, in Ceylon. The only particular in which it differs from the continental form is, that the under surface instead of being blackish is a dirty olive. Length of body 10", tail 1" 9". Ventrals 154 ; subcaudals 44. TROPIDONOTUS PLATYCEPS, Blyth; Gthr. I.e. p. 264. The dentition of Blyth's type and m y specimens is 14 + 2, enlarged teeth behind separated from each other by a distinct interval, and not 10 as stated by Giinther. The enlarged teeth are two in number, and in a special sac. In Blyth's type one specimen has three postoculars on both sides, the two lowermost ones in contact with two temporals; while the other specimen has a like arrangement on its right side, but only two postoculars and one anterior temporal on its left. M y specimens show like variations of the postocular and temporal shields, as follows:- Number Number of Temporals in con-of postoculars. temporals anteriorly. tact with oculars. No. Right. Left. Right. Left. ' Right. Left. 1 3 3 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 5 3 3 1 1 2 2 6 3 3 1 1 2 2 |
