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Show 186 DR. J. ANDERSON ON INDIAN REPTILES. [Feb. 21, No. Length. l n;' 2 404 3 40^ 4 37 J 6 304 'a i^ 7 19| 8 16-? I'ail. ql" 8f 9 8 61 7 4 34 3| Ventrals. 246 241 242 241 248 240 232 241 243 Caudals 112 108 125 115 110 123 115 120 9 16 122 Temporals and their relation to the oculars :- • No. 1 2 3 4 6 .. .. 7 8 9 Number of in 1st row. R. 2 2 o 1 2 2 o 2 3 L. 2 2 I 3 2 2 2 3 tempoi •als in 2nd row. R. 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 L. 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 Temp, in contact with oculars. R. L. 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 If it were not for the great difference in the coloration of this species and that of D. bubalina, the two might very properly be regarded as one. However, there can be no doubt that Blyth's D. nigromarginata, which is a green Snake, is D. bubalina, although the lower and upper temporals on the left side are in contact with the oculars. These appear to be the only differences by which they are distinguished ; but a consideration of the amount of variation in these respects that characterizes the present species shows how little importance is to be attached to such characters in variable forms. Since writing the foregoing, I have received fifteen specimens of this Snake from Darjeeling, obtained at an elevation of 5000 feet, agreeing in every respect with those described above. The largest is 45 inches in length, of which the tail measures 9" 3'". These fifteen specimens show the same variations as the foregoing ones. Received along with these there is another Snake agreeing with Blyth's D. multifasciata and with the present species in all its structural characters, and to be distinguished only by its coloration. It is rich reddish brown above ; but there are about seventy-one zigzag transverse black bands on the sides, from the outside of the ventral scales three-fifths down the side at regular intervals. There is a series of not very well-defined black spots on the sides of the ventrals, corresponding more or less to the transverse bands; and the sides of the ventrals generally are marbled with black, and their centres faintly clouded with minute dark specks. The surface of the head |