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Show 18"6.] MR.W.T. BLANFORD ON INDIAN REPTILES. 635 5. On some of the Specific Identifications in Dr. Glimmer's Second Report on Collections of Indian Reptiles obtained by the British Museum. By W . T. B L A N F O R D , F.R.S., F.Z.S. [Received June 6, 1876.] Dr. Gunther, in his "Second Report on Collections of Indian obtained by the British Museum" (P. Z. S. 1875, p. 224), has made some " short remarks on species of reptiles recently named and described-not with the object of correcting nomenclature, but rather with the view of inviting the authors of those species to reconsider the characters on which they have based them." As some of the remarks in question refer to species distinguished, though in no case originally described by myself, I took the first opportunity, after seeing Dr. Giinther's paper, of reexamining the specimens on which my opinions had been founded. I have also examined some of the types described by the late Dr. Stoliczka. The result is that I am unable in some cases to agree with Dr. Gunther; and in one case I think I can show that some mistake has been made. I will take Dr. Giinther's identifications in the order in which they occur*. 1. CABRITA BRUNNEA. Dr. Gunther is, I believe, right in considering this the same as C. leschenaulti. In 1871 I collected many specimens of the former (which I had previously considered distinct), and I could find no difference except in the number of postnasals; and this depends on the circumstance that the lower nasal is sometimes united to the lower postnasal, sometimes separate. The same variation is occasionally met with in Ophiops elegans. I found Cabrita leschenaulti common in the Godavery valley near Badrachellum ; and I noticed that the very young which abounded in the month of April had always two postnasals, but that as they grew larger the lower postnasal appeared to become united to the lower nasal. It is possible (as I did not remain in one spot) that the distinction was local, and that the young Lizards in one place had two postnasals, in another one ; but after the animals had grown rather larger I could find none with two postnasals, although those I found at first all had them. The head-scales in the very young animals are quite smooth. 2. OPHIOPS JERDONI, Blyth. Dr. Gunther unites with this Cabrita jerdoni of Beddome and myself, Pseudophiops theobaldi, Jerdon, and Ophiops bivittatus Beddome. The last two identifications had already been made by Beddome (Madras Med. Journ. 1870) and by Stoliczka (J. A. S. B. * Dr. Gunther has, I think, overlooked the circumstance that many of his identifications had been anticipated by the late Dr. Stoliczka (J. A. S. B. 1872, xii. pt. 2, pp. 86-135). |
