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Show 220 MR. w. T. B L A N F O R D O N REPTILES [Feb. I, when Dr. Gunther called my attention to the dentition, and suggested that the species might be a Nymphophidium. On comparing it with the type of N. maculatum in the British Museum, I found a close agreement in all essential characters; but some differences in the form of the head-shields and in the dentition show, I think, that the species are distinct. The pupil in the snake now described is distinctly vertical; and this character is shown in Jan's figure of Odontomus subannulatus, although it is not mentioned in Dumeril and Bibron's rather meagre description. From Giinther's description of Nymphophidium, it might be inferred that the pupil is round, as it is in Odontomus as restricted by Gunther ; for the two genera are said to agree in every respect except dentition. On examining the type of N. maculatum in the British Museum, however, I find that the pupils are ill-preserved, and their form is not distinguishable ; but in a second specimen, procured from Dr. Bleeker for the same Collection, the pupil on one side is slightly elliptical. This very peculiar feature of a vertical pupil has consequently to be added to the generic characters. I find in the present specimen of N. subannulatum two peculiar small conical white tooth-like projections from the base of the skull, as in N. maculatum. They are easily seen at the back of the palate when the mouth is opened freely. I add a description of the present snake, Dumeril and Bibron's account being (as already noticed) imperfect. Description.-Body and tail slender, compressed. Head much broader than neck, flat, depressed. Pupil elliptical, vertical. Scales of body but little longer than broad, smooth, in 15 rows. Ventrals 230, strongly angulate at the sides; anal undivided ; subcaudals in 97 pairs. Maxillary teeth small and numerous, increasing slightly in size behind; the last is much larger and compressed, and projects horizontally backwards. Head-shields.-Rostral broader than high, scarcely extending to the upper surface of the head. Anterior frontals as long as the posterior, rounded in front, scarcely broader than long. Posterior frontals much broader than long. Vertical elongate, the lateral margins converging and slightly concave, posterior angle acute; the length of the shield is but little less than that of an occipital; and the postfrontals and vertical together considerably exceed the occipitals in length. Nostril near the middle of a single rectangular shield, succeeded behind by another elongate rectangular shield (the loreal, or loreal and lower prceocular united), which extends to the eye. A small prseocular above the loreal, one postocularl. Temporals 2 + 2 . Supralabials 7, the third and fourth enter the orbit. Colour (in spirit). The anterior portion of the back dark brown, with subdistant pale cross bands, which become closer together 1 In this character the specimen appears to differ from the type, which is figured with two postoculars. But on one side of the present example there is a well-marked groove, if not an imperfect suture, separating the lower posterior portion of the superciliary shield ; and the postocular precisely corresponds to the inferior postorbital of the figure. |