sides of the head and occiput with imbricate scales; trunk narrowed near the head, thicker towards the middle; tail conical, elongated, tapering to a sharp point.

CORONELLA BALIODEIRA, Schlegel.

SYN.-Patza Tutta, Russell I. Pl. 29?

Coluber pictus, Daudin?

Coluber plinii, Merrem?

Coronella baliodeira, Boie MS.

Above lighter or darker olive brown, yellowish on the head, the scales minutely dotted with dark brown; the anterior part of the trunk with a number of distant transversal ocellated lines, composed of single transversal series of white scales, edged with black, labial shields yellow edged with black; beneath pearl coloured or yellowish white; iris golden, lower half blackish; tongue black.

Scuta 122 to 132; Scutella 65 to 72.

HABIT.-Pinang.

Java.

Of two individuals from the hills of Pinang, the larger was of the following dimensions:

Length of the head,

Ditto ditto trunk,

Ditto ditto tail, ..

05 inch.

82

3

1ft. 1 inch.

Circumference of the neck, of the trunk, of the root of the tail inch.

Both agree with the description of M. Schlegel, except in having two small præ-orbitals instead of one. Russell's No. 29, from Casemcottah, which according to M. Schlegel is Coluber pictus, Daudin, C. plinii, Merrem, is probably intended to represent the present species. It is of fierce habits.

GEN. XENODON, H. Boie.

Head scarcely distinct, muzzle obtuse, nostrils rounded, between 3 shields; eyes encircled behind only by 3 shields; trunk short robust ; tail rather, short slowly tapering; 4 very large mentals, the last upper maxillary tooth the longest.

XENODON PURPURASCENS, Schlegel.

SYN.-Coronella albocincta, Cantor, (Var.)

Above olive brown with black spots, and numerous pale red transversal zig-zag bands, each with a submarginal black line. The first occupies the space between the eyes, continuing obliquely backward over the cheeks and lips; the second, arrow-shaped, diverging over the neck; labial shields yellow with brown margins. Beneath strongly iridescent pale carmine; every other scutum entirely or partially black near the lateral angles. Iris circular, golden, lower half dotted with black; tongue black.

Scuta 179 to 183; Scutella 36 to 65.

Java, Tenasserim, (Var) Chirra-Punji, Assam, Darjeling,
Midnapore (Bengal.)

A solitary individual observed on the summit of the Great Hill of Pinang, defended itself vigorously. The dimensions were:

Circumference of the neck, 14, of the trunk 2, of the root of the tail 1 inch. It differs from the description of M. Schlegel in having 21 longitudinal series of scales instead of 19, and on the right side 3 præ-orbitals. Labials on each side. The Variety described as Coronella albocincta inhabits Assam, Chirra Punji, Darjeling, and Midnapore (Bengal.) It differs from those of the southern localities in having the head not distinct from he trunk, and its shields are shorter. The eyes are smaller, and, owing to the much swollen cheeks, appear sunk, which with the remarkably shelving profile, contribute to render the physiognomy singularly scowling. The largest specimen in the Museum of the Asiatic Society measures in length 2 feet 5 inch., of which the head, the trunk 2 feet 13, and the tail 3 inch. In all, the livery is individually varying, but the arrow-shaped mark, double in some, appears to be constant. Labials on each side.

GEN. LYCODON, H. Boie.

Head not very distinct, oblong, depressed; supra-orbital shield triangular, narrowed in front; præ-orbital one; post-orbitals two; frenal one; eyes sunk, far removed from the muzzle; pupil vertical; trunk elongated, somewhat compressed with smooth, rhomboidal, imbricate scales; tail short, tapering: anterior maxillary teeth longer than the

rest.

LYCODON AULICUS, (Linné.)

LYN.-Coluber aulicus, Linné (not apud Daudin.)

Russell* I, Pl. 16, Gajoo Tutta.

Coluber striatus, Shaw?

Coluber malignus, Daudin.

Lycodon hebe, Boie, apud Wagler, Schlegel (excl. Synon. Col. hebe,
Daud.)

Lighter or darker chestnut with numerous white transversal bands, (in some spotted with black,) on the sides forming a forked network, composed of brown scales edged with white; on each side of the hindhead a white triangular spot (confluent in some,) with brown spots; lips similarly coloured; beneath pearl-coloured; eyes black; tongue whitish.

Scuta 208 to 257; scutella 57 to 91.

HABIT.-Pinang.

Bengal, Coromandel.

VAR. A.

SYN.-Lycodon hebe, Var, Schlegel.

With a number of large square white spots, with black edges and central spots.

* Russell I, Pl. 26, Karetta, upon which is founded Coluber galathea, Daudin,

appears to represent the present species, or one of its Varieties.

Chesnut or deep purple marbled with white veins, edged with black, with or without a white collar.

HABIT. Pinang, Malayan Peninsula.

Tenasserim Provinces, Java.

VAR. C.

LYN.-Lycodon hebe, Var. timorensis, Schlegel.

Chestnut, with a white collar, and indistinct traces of white network.

HABIT. Pinang, Malayan Peninsula.

Pulo Samao, Timor.

SYN.-Russel II, Pl. 39.

Lydocon subfuscus, Cantor.

VAR. D.

Uniformly light brown above, the lips white, edged with brown. HABIT.-Malayan Peninsula.

Bengal.

This species occurs in the Malayan countries both in the hills and valleys, but it is apparently not so numerous as it is in Bengal. It is of fierce habits and defends itself vigorously, In one examined the stomach contained a young Euprepis rufescens, (Shaw).

The largest individual observed, Var. B., was of the following dimensions:

Circumference of the neck 1 inch, of the trunk 14, of the root of the tail inch. 18

Ophites.-Wagler differing from Lycodon in the absence of the præ-orbital shield; frenal elongated; eyes small, scales rhombic with truncated points; some of the posterior dorsal scales keeled.

LYCODON PLATURINUS, (SHAW,)

SYN.-Seba Thes. I, 83, 3.

Russel, II, Pl. 41.

Coluber platurinus, Shaw.

Coluber platyrhinus, Merrem.

Lycodon subcinctus, H. Boie.

Ophites, Wagler.

Lycodon subemetus, apud Schlegel.

Shining blackish brown with steel blue reflections, and a varying uumber of broad, distant bands, the lips, throat and a collar all white, spotted with black; beneath pale blackish brown, the anterior part of the abdomen, the sharp lateral angle and the broad posterior margins of the scuta and scutella whitish. Eyes black; tongue flesh-coloured. Scutta 221, Scutella 74.

HABIT,-Pinang.

Java, Bengal.*

On both sides of each jaw the anterior 4 or 5 teeth increase in size and are longer than the rest. The fifth upper maxillary tooth is removed from the preceding, which in addition to the general shape of the head and the lax integuments, imparts to this serpent a striking resemblance to the venomous genus Bungarus. In fierceness it resembles the preceding species. The only individual observed was captured near the summit of the Great Hill of Pinang, where it had seized a large Euprepis rufescens, (Shaw). It was of the following dimensions.

Circumference of the neck 15, of the trunk 24 inch.

LYCODON EFFRÆNIS, N. s.

Shining bluish black above, with a few minute white spots, not affecting the ground colour; the throat, lips, and a band, bordering the sides of the head from the muzzle to the hind head, buff coloured, finely marbled with black; beneath strongly iridescent, pale bluish black, the scuta with whitish edges; the body encircled by a number (11,) of broad distant buff rings, above with indentated margins. Eyes black, pupil elliptical; tongue whitish.

Scuta 228; Scutella 72.

According to M. Schlegel, who observes that a specimen has been forwarded from Bengal by M. Duvaucel. No specimen exists in the Museum of the Asiatic Society, nor are the natives acquainted with the species.