OCR Text |
Show 184 DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILE*.. [Feb. 21, are males. In the black specimens there is a series of orange zigzag spots along the angles of the ventrals and first scales cn the anterior half of the body, and the basal margins of the second row of scales are pure white", which, however, is only visible when the scales are drawn apart. The same markings are also seen in the light-coloured specimens when the scales are pulled asunder. Some of the latter specimens are marked by longitudinal lines on the sides. A dusky line finely mottled with white and black runs along the angles of the ventrals, with a narrow pale reddish line above it corresponding to the position of the zigzag orange spots, with a dusky brown and broader band above it spotted with black and white. This species appears to be restricted to the tropical valleys about Darjeeling; for all m y specimens are from elevations of from 1700 to 1900 feet. It does not appear to be uncommon. DENDROPHIS PICTA, Gmel. (Gthr. 1. c. p. 297), var. ANDAMANENSIS. Scales in fifteen series, smooth, with apical grooves ; vertebral scales much enlarged, hexagonal. Ventrals keeled, 196; subcaudals 130. Head elongated; snout rounded in front. Rostral broader than high, with a deep impression in front, just reaching to the upper surface of the head. Prtefrontals slightly longer than broad, rounded in front, and more than half as large as the postfrontals, which are broader than long and bent down on the sides of the head, forming a broad suture with the loreal. Vertical broad in front, narrow in its posterior half. Superciliaries large and almost as broad as the vertical. Occipitals of moderate size, rounded behind. Nostril large, between two rather prominent nasals, the posterior shield forming a suture with the anterior shield, posterior frontals, loreal, and first and second labials. Loreal narrow and much elongated, lying on three upper labials. One large praeocular reaching the upper surface of the head, but not touching the vertical; two postoculars, the inferior one the smallest. Temporals 2 + 2 + 2. Upper labials nine, tbe fifth and sixth forming the floor of the orbit. Two pairs of elongated chin shields, the posterior the longest; the first in contact with five labials. Grass-green above, each scale with a broad black margin, and the ventrals with a black margin externally as far as the keel. The black margins of the lateral scales so broad that when the body is at rest they produce the appearance as if a black line ran along the side of the body. A black band the breadth of the loreal, through the eye, over the inferior postorbital and upper margins of the last upper labials, to the side of the neck, where it breaks up at intervals of two rows of scales into round black spots, of which there are five along each side of the neck, behind which they enlarge into oblique black V-shaped markings on the anterior tenth of the body. A faint dark line underneath the keel. Length of body 2' 8" 6'" ; tail 1' 2". Andamans, |