330 COLUBBIDJE. 



labials 8, fourth and fifth entering the eye; 5 lower labials in 

 contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are shorter than the 

 posterior. Scales in 16 rows, the four or six median rows keeled. 

 Ventrals 193-205; anal divided; subcaudals 123-137. Green 

 above, scales black-edged ; yellowish green below ; two broad deep- 

 black bauds along each side of the tail, advancing forwards on the 

 trunk to its middle third in adult specimens, and nearly to the 

 head in young ones ; the two upper bands separated from each 

 other by the joining halves of the two vertebral series of scales. 



Total length 7 feet (grows to 9) ; tail 2 feet. 



Hah. Himalayas (4000 to 7100 feet), TChrisi Hills, and Kakhyon 

 Hills, Upper Burma. 



Geniis COLUBER *, 



Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 375 (part.), 1766 ; Schleg. Phys. Sei-p. ii, p. 125, 

 1837. 



Maxillary teeth 12 to 22, subequal in size ; mandibular teeth 

 subequal. Head distinct from neck, elongate ; eye moderate, with 

 round pupil ; head-shields normal. Body elongate, feebly com- 

 pressed; scales smooth or keeled, with apical pits, in 19 to 27 

 rows ; ventrals usually with a more or less marked lateral keel ; 

 subcaudals double. 



A large genus, distributed over the greater part of Europe, Asia, 

 and North and Tropical America. Habits arboreal or subarboreal ; 

 fierce, and feeding chiefly on small mammals and birds. 



Fig. 99. Head of Coluber hodgsonii. 



Synopsis of Indian, Ceylonese, and Burmese Species. 



A. Scales smooth or feebly keeled ; ventrals 



without well-marked lateral keel. 

 . Anal usually single. 



a'. Scales in 23 to 27 rows C. hekna, p. 331. 



V. Scales in 19 or 21 rows C. reticularis, p. 332. 



* Includes Elaphis, Calopeltis, Cynophis, Compsosoma, Spilotes, and Gony- 

 osoma. The species referred to Gonyosoma stand in the same relation to Elaphis 

 and Compsosoma as the green Ablabes (Cyclopliis), Dipsas, or Trimeresuntg to 

 the other species of those genera. 



