CALLOPHIS MACCLELLANDII. 349 



black-edged band runs from the occiput to the tip of the tail ; a buff-coloured band, with an 

 upper and lower black border, runs along the joining edges of the two outer series of scales ; 

 the upper black border is as broad as the stripe of reddish-grey ground-colour on the side of 

 the back. Belly with alternate pale citrine and black cross bands, the latter colour occupying 

 three or four ventral shields together, whilst the former rarely occupies more than two ; tail 

 with three black rings, which, however, are sometimes absent. 



Upper labials six; ventral shields 223-271; subcaudals 24-26. 



The coloration described above is that which is found in the variety from the Malayan 

 Peninsula, Pinang, Singapore, and Central India (Malwah) (var. malayana)*. Specimens 

 from Java have the vertebral line continued on the head, where it is forked ; it has no black 

 edges ; and the ground-colour is brown. 



This species occurs also in Sumatra, Borneo, and in the Philippine Islands [y^x.pMlijypina) ; 

 it attains to a length of 2 feet, the tail measuring 1^ inch. 



Callophis gracilis. 



Calliophis gracilis, Gray, Incl. Zool. c. fig. (dentition incorrect). 

 Elaps nigromaculatus, Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 108. pi. 40. fig. 7. 



Head yellowish brown above, paler below, each shield with a blackish spot. Ground- 

 colour of the trunk and tail reddish light-grey; a black vertebral Ime runs from the occiput 

 to the tip of the tail, showing small button-like swellings in regular interspaces ; along the 

 lower part of the side a white band, edged with black above and below, and longitudinally 

 divided into two by a black median line. A series of large, round, black, white-edged spots 

 along each side of the back, the spots being disposed in quincunx order with the small 

 swellings of the vertebral line. Belly pale yellow with black cross bands, both colours being 

 nearly equally divided. Tail at the root and near the apex with a broad black, white-edged 

 ring ; its lower surface is vermilion, with a black cross band in the middle between the rings. 



Six upper labials; ventrals 238-311; subcaudals 21-28; anterior temporal very large, 

 posterior small. 



This fine species has been found only at Pinang and Singapore ; it attains to a length of 

 28 inches, the tail measuring 1^ inch. 



Callophis hacclellandii. 



Elaps macclellandii, /feiw^. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. 1844, iv. p. 532; and Vidensk. Medd. Naturh. 

 Foren. Kjobenh. 1860, p. 247. 



personatus, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1855, xxiii. p. 298. 



univirgatiis, Giinth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 231. 



Callophis univirgata, Giinth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 83. pi. 17. 

 macclellaudii, Gimth. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1861, May 28. 



Upper labials seven; temporals small, 1 + 1 -f-l ; anal bifid. 



* A specimen of this variety has been received by Dr. van Bleeker as " Elaps thepassii." 



