LYCODON LAOENSIS. 317 



which are sometimes bifid on the sides, tlie branches of one band joining a branch of the 

 preceding and following bands. The first band forms a collar ; those on the hind part of the 

 body gradually become indistinct. This variety is very common, and similar to, but specifi- 

 cally distinct from, the snake figured by Russell (i. pi. 16): we have received it from Pinang, 

 Bengal, Nepal, Kangra (Himalayas), the Dekkan, and the Anamallay Mountains. 



II. Ceylonese varieties. The posterior frontals are much elongate, much longer than broad 

 in every age. Upper labials white or shaded with brown. 



Var. e. Uniform brownish grey above. 



Var. X,- Brown, with three or four broad, distant, white cross bands on the anterior half of 

 the body ; the anterior forms a collar, the others being broadest on the sides. 



Var. T). Brown or greyish, with pure-white or reticulated white cross bands extending 

 dovrawards to the belly, where they are broadest. 



This is one of the most common snakes of the Indian continent and of Ceylon ; it does 

 not extend northwards to China, and becomes scarcer on the coasts of the south-eastern parts 

 of India ; it occurs in only a few of the islands — in the Philippines and in Timor ; it is not 

 certain whether the Javan form is specifically the same. It attains to a length of more 

 than 2 feet, the tail being one-sixth. It is one of the most formidable enemies of the skinks, 

 which form almost its sole food, tlie fangs in front of its jaws being admirably adapted for 

 piercing and making good its hold on the hard smooth scales with which those lizards are 

 coated. It is of fierce habits and defends itself vigorously. 



LyCODOK LAOENSIS. 



Snout broad, much depressed, short, with the upper lip not swollen and without canthus 

 rostralis. Eostral shield moderately depressed, not twice as broad as high, slightly bent 

 backwards on the upper surface of the snout ; anterior frontals rather small, not quite half 

 as large as posterior, obtusely rounded in front, as long as broad ; posterior frontals scarcely 

 longer than broad ; vertical of moderate length and width ; supraciliary small ; occipitals not 

 much elongate, rounded behind. Nostril small, directed upwards, between two nasals, the 

 anterior of which is situated on the foremost part of the snout. Loreal single, large, nearly 

 twice as long as broad. Prseocular single, in contact with the vertical and with the third 

 labial ; two postoculars. Nine upper labials, the third, fourth, and fifth of which enter the 

 orbit. Temporals numerous, scale-like. Scales smooth, with a minute apical groove, in seven- 

 teen series. Abdomen and tail with a distinct angular ridge on each side in the male, indis- 

 tinct in the female. Ventrals 185; anal bifid; subcaudals 68. Dentition as in L. (adieus. 

 Deep black above, with pure-white cross bands : the first cross band forms a collar ; those on 

 the anterior half of the trunk are distant, five in number, widening below, so that the ground- 

 colour appears in very large rounded patches ; the cross bands on the posterior half of the 

 trunk and on the tail are closer and narrower. Lower parts uniform white. 



Two specimens from the Laos Mountains, a male and female, are perfectly alike, and 

 having a considerably shorter and narrower snout than L. aulicus, this character, combined 



