344 OPHIDIA. 



32-36. Body with alternate broad black and yellowish rmgs, extending across the belly ; 

 there are from twenty-five to thirty-three of these black rings round the trunk ; the first is 

 the broadest, and produced into a triangular process, the point of which rests on the vertical 

 shield. Head black anteriorly and on the sides, separated from the triangular process by a 

 yellow V-like mark. Lower parts and throat uniform yellow. 



This is the largest species of Bunganis, attaining to a length of 4 feet, the tail taking one- 

 tenth of it. It has a wide range, but appears to be rather locally distributed ; it has been 

 brought from Java, from the Malayan Peninsula and Pinang, from the Tenasserim coast, 

 from Bengal and China, and from the coast of Coromandel. Jerdon says that he has seen 

 specimens only in the Northern Circars at Ganjam, where it is not very common. In Ceylon 

 it is represented by a distinct species. 



BUNGAEUS CETLONICUS. 



Bungai-us fasciatus, var. B, Giinth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 221. 



The first temporal shield is considerably longer than high. Ventrals 229 ; subcaudals 

 36-40. Broad black rings encircle the whole body, eighteen to twenty round the trunk, the 

 white intervals being very narrow and spotted with black ; no collar. The i/onng has a broad 

 white collar, interrupted by a black occipital streak, and extending over the sides of the 

 head ; the black bands do not extend across the belly as in mature age. 



This species or variety is peculiar to Ceylon, and not uncommon ; our largest specimen is 

 40 inches long, the tail measuring 3^ inches. I have found Uropeltides in its stomach. 



BUNGAEUS SEMIFASCIATUS. 



Bungarus semifasciatus, Kuhl, Isis, 1827, p. 552. Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 459. pi. 16. figs. 18-20, 



aud Abbild. taf. 18. figs. 6-10 (synon. part.). Dum. ^ Bibr. vii. p. 1271. 

 Aspidoclonion semifasciatum, Wagl. Icon. tab. 3. 

 Bungarus multicinctus, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng, 1861, xxix. p. 98. 



The first temporal shield is considerably longer than high. Ventrals 210-221 ; subcaudals 

 44-52. Black bands across the back, but not extending across the belly, from thirty-five to 

 fifty in number ; the anterior are broader than the posterior ; they are separated by white 

 cross bands, each of which is as broad as one or two scales ; the black bands extend entirely 

 round the tail. Collar none. 



We have received this species only from China and from the island of Formosa: as 

 B. cceruleus has been confounded with it by Schlegel, it is very doubtful whether it occurs in 

 the localities mentioned by this herpetologist. It attains to a length of 4 feet, the tail being 

 one-ninth of the total length. It feeds on hzards when young, and afterwards probably on 

 small mammals. 



