there are four loreals on the right side, the supplementary shield being evidently a
separated portion of the uppermost loreal. This specimen measures 5T50 inches
in length, of which the tail is 1 4 inches, and it has 1 9 6 ventrals and 1 2 7 sub-
caudals.
In the Mandalay snake there are nine upper labials, the fifth and sixth entering
the orbit. In all other particulars, these specimens agree with Indian examples of
the species.
P t y a s k o r r o s , Reinwardt.
Coluber korros (Reinw.) Schleg., Phys. Serp., 1837, vol. ii, p. 189 ; id., Abbild., 1837, pis. xxvii and
xxviii, figs. 1-6; Cantor, Joum. As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xvi, 1847, p. 921.
Corryphodon korros, Dum. & Bibr. Erpét. Génl., vol. vii, 1854, p. 186 ; Giinth., Cat. Col. Sn., 1858,
p. 110.
Ptyas korros, Cope, Proc. As. Philad., 1860, p. 568; Günth., Rept. B. Ind., 1864, p. 250; Steind.,
Reise Novara, 1867, p. 65; Jan. & Sord, Icon. Gén. Opb., 1867, pi. iii; Theobald, Journ.
Linn. Soc., 1868, p. 46; id., Descr. Cat. Rept. Brit. Ind., 1876, p. 169; Stol., Joum. As. Soc.,
. Bengal, vol. xl, 1871, p. 84; vol. xlii, 1878, p. 114.
The following specimens from the parallel valleys of Sanda and Hotha in Yunnan
agree with the generality of the examples of this snake which have come under
my observation, except in the greater number of the ventral and sub-caudal shields,
but even the highest number of the ventral shields in these Yunnan snakes is
exceeded by a specimen of the species from Darjeeling in which they are as
many as 1 8 7 .
Length—total 52*25 inches; tail 19 inches ; ventrals 183 ; sub-caudals 145.
„ 60 inches ,,. imperfect. ,, 179 „ ?
This species ranges eastwards from the Sikkim Himalaya through Assam to
TJpper Burma, Western Yunnan, and Southern China and Siam, and through Arracan
and the Malayan Peninsula to Sumatra and Java.
The snake from Ceylon referred by Blyth to this specimen is apparently an
example of JP. mucosus, and Eerguson states that P. korros is never found in that
island.
Genus T r o p i d o n o t t j s , K ü h l .
T r o p id o n o t t j s stolat tjs, Linn.
Russell, Ind. Serp., vol. i, 1796, pis. x & xi ; id., op. cit., vol. ii, 1801, pi. xv, juv.
Slolated Snake, Shaw. Gen. Zool., 1802, vol. iii, p. 542.
Cobber stolatus, Linn., Mus. Adolph. Frid., 1754, p. 26, pl. xxii,fig. 1 ; Syst. Nat., 12th ed., 1766,
vol. i, p. 379; Laurenti, Syst. Rept., 1768, p. 95; Gmel., Syst. Nat., 1788, vol. i, part iii, p.
B p 098-
Colvber cervinm, Gmel., Syst. Nat., 1788, vol. i, part iii, p. 1114; Lacép., Quadr. Ovip., vol. ii,
1789, p. 107 ; Latr., Rept., 1801, vol. iv, p. 80 ; Daud., Rept. 1808, vol. vii, p. 161.
Natrix stolatus, Merr., Tent. Syst. Rept., 1820, p. 128.
Tropidonotus stolatus, Boie, Isis, 1827, p. 535 ; Schleg., Phys. Serp., 1837, vol. ii, p. 317 ; Cantor,
" Journ. As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xvi, 1847, p. 937; Jerdon, Joum. As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xxii,
1858, p. 580; Giinth., Cat. Col. Sn., 1858, p. 68; Rept. B. Ind., 1864, p. 266; Theobald
Joum. Linn. Soc., 1868, p. 47 ; id., Descr. Cat. Rept. Brit. Ind., 1876, p. 177 ; Stol., Joum.
As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xxxix, 1870, pp. 141, 191; Anders., Joum. As. Soc., Bengal, vol. xl,
1871, p. 84; Ferguson, Rept., Fauna, Ceylon, 1876, p. 20.
Amphiesma stolatum, Dum. & Bibr., Esp., Gen., 1854, vol. vii, p. 727,; Jan, Canestr. Arch. Zool.
vol. iii, 1864, p. 283.
This specimen agrees in every respect with Indian examples of the species, with
the exception that the light-coloured longitudinal bands are olive-brown instead of
white or yellow, but becoming white spots on the transverse black bands.
Ventrals 147.
No other specimen came under my notice besides this one which was obtained
at Bhamô. On the high land beyond that town its place seems to be taken by
the next species.
T r o p id o n o t t j s m o d e s t u s , Günther.
Tropidonotus modestus, Günther, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1875, March ldth, p. 232.
A comparison of a large series of this species from Cherra Poonjee, Khasia Hills,
and examples from Western Yunnan, with the types in the British Museum,
enables me somewhat to extend the original characters given by Günther.
Head narrow, distinct from neck, rather anteriorly tapering and flat above ;
snout of moderate length, rather pointedly rounded. Eyes moderate. Scales very
feebly keeled on the sides in the fémaies, but more pronouncedly on the back ;
scales of the male generally strongly keeled, the tips of the scales near the end of
the trunk, and on the tail, being somewhat divided. Scales in 19 rows. Prefrontal
subtriangular, somewhat pointed or rounded anteriorly. Postfrontals transversely
elongated. Vertical of moderate size, lateral margins nearly parallel in some, and
rather strongly convergent in others. Hinder portion generally acutely pointed.
Occipitals as long as the vertical and postfrontals, obliquely or transversely
truncated behind in some, rounded in others. Loreal oblong or nearly square. One
or two preoculars, the upper reaching to the surface of the head, but not touching
the vertical. Two or three postoculars. Temporals 1 + 2 + 2 or 2 + 2 + 1. The
anterior in contact with the postoculars. Nine upper labials, the 4th, 5th and 6th
entering the orbit. Two pairs of elongated chin-shields, the hinder pair the longest
and divergent. The anterior pair in contact with five labials. Twelve closely set
teeth on each side of the upper jaw, increasing in size from before backwards ; the
last tooth large, and at a slightly longer interval from the preceding tooth than the
latter is from the tooth before it. Ventrals 154 to 168. Sub-caudalsi82 to 122.
In thé only male examined, all the sub-caudals were entire without exhibiting any
tendency to division, and they were reduced in number to 82, whereas in the females
the lowest number of these plates was 96. The non-division of the sub-caudals,
although a remarkable circumstance, can only be regarded in the light of an accidental
variation, for there can be no doubt of the specific identity of this male with
the females, although it differs from, them in having strongly keeled scales which, on
G 5