310 OPHIDIA. 



prseocular, extending to, or nearly to, the vertical ; two postoculars. Eight low upper labials, 

 the third, fourth, and fifth very low, forming the lower part of the orbit. Temporals 2+2 

 or 2 + 3, the two anterior in contact with the postoculars. Two pairs of very broad chin- 

 shields, the posterior smaller than the anterior; the first pair of lower labials are large, 

 forming together a broad suture behind the mental shield; the other anterior labials are 

 numerous, but narrow and small. Each maxillary is armed with ten teeth equal in size and 

 with three posterior grooved teeth ; palatine teeth not enlarged ; the anterior mandibulary 

 teeth are rather larger than the others. Eeddish olive, dotted and spotted with brown and 

 black, the spots being numerous, forming longitudinal and transverse series ; a series of white 

 spots along each side of the belly ; a black spot below each white one ; belly marbled with 

 purple and dotted with broAATi. Head symmetrically spotted with black, each black spot 

 having a white edge. 



This appears to be a very scarce species, as I have met with but one other example besides 

 the two typical specimens from General Hardwicke's collection, which are said to be from 

 Bengal. The larger is 57 inches long, the tail measuilng 15 inches. Its stomach contained 

 the remains of a bird. The third example mentioned is that figui-ed by Motley and Dillwyn 

 as Dipsas fusca* , from Labuan, which specific name cannot be adopted, as it has been used 

 for an Australian and for a West- African species of Bipsas. This Bornean specimen differs 

 slightly from those from British India, ha\ing 240 ventral and 140 subcaudal shields. 

 Whilst in the latter the posterior frontal is in contact with the loreal, both these shields are 

 separated by the intervening nasal in the Bornean specimens. 



The three views of the head on Plate XXIV. are taken from one of the typical specimens 

 from Hardwicke's collection. 



DiPSAS DENDKOPHILA. 



Dipsas dendrophila, [Reinw.) Wagl. Syst. Amph. p. 181, and Icon, taf, 8. Schleg. Phys. Serp. 



p. 263. pi. 11. figs. 1-3, and Abbild. taf. 45. Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 76. Motley ^- Dillwyn, 



Labuan, p. 47. Giinth. Colubr. Snakes, p. 169. 

 Triglyphodon dendrophilum et gemmicinctum, Dum. if Bibr. -s-ii. pp. 1086, 1091. 



Scales in twenty-one series, smooth, with two narrow apical grooves ; those of the vertebral 

 series large, hexagonal. Ventrals 211-229 ; anal entii-e ; subcaudals 90-112. Nostril roimd ; 

 loreal higher than long. One prseocular, just reaching the upper surface of the head ; two 

 postoculars. Eight upper labials, the third, foui'th, and fifth of which enter the orbit. The 

 temporals vary in number and form, but there are always two in contact with the postoculars. 

 Two pairs of chin-shields, the anterior being considerably larger than the posterior. Each 

 maxillary is armed with twelve equal teeth of moderate size and with a posterior grooved 

 tooth ; palatine teeth not enlarged ; anterior mandibulary teeth rather longer than the others. 

 Black, iridescent, with numerous (40-50-90) narrow yellow cross bands, broader below, and 

 generally interrupted on the median line ; occasionally they are reduced to lateral spots ; 



* This figui'e does not represent a Dipsas trigonata, as I formerly believed. 



