TRAGOPS DISPAE. 303 



Tragops prasinus. 



Dryiopliis prasina^ {Reimv.) Bote, Isis, 1827, p. 545. Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 250. pi. 10. 



figs. 9-12, & Abbikl. taf. 8. figs. 1-6. Motley S^ Dillwyn, Labuan, p. 47. 

 Dryinus nasutus, Bell, Zool. Journ. ii. p. 327. 

 Tragops nasutus, Wagl. Syst. Amph. p. 184. 

 Dryinus prasinus, Cantor, Mai. Kept. p. 81. 

 Tragops prasinus, Dum. ^ Bibr. vii. p. 824. 



Scales smooth, in fifteen rows, those of the vertebral series considerably larger than the 

 others. Ventrals 212-234; anal bifid; subcaudals 176-203. Rostral shield flat, subcres- 

 centic, not extending on to the upper surface of the head, with a rather sharp ridge above. 

 Both frontals much longer than broad ; vertical bell-shaped, elongate behind ; supraciliaries 

 large, considerably broader than vertical ; occipitals as long as vertical, rounded behind. Nasal 

 simple, very long and narrow, pierced by the nostril posteriorly ; from one to three loreals. 

 Praeocular single, deeply grooved, joining the vertical ; two postoculars. Nine upper labials, 

 the fourth, fifth, and sixth of which enter the orbit. Temporals irregular, generally two 

 small ones in contact with the postoculars. The ground-colour is in some green, in others 

 yellow, and, again, in others brown ; all have a yellow or white line running along each side 

 of the ventral shields ; the young ones have a central ventral line besides. 



The brown variety is rather scarce, and has been considered as a distinct species, Tragops 

 xanthozonius (Russell, Ind. Serp. ii. pi. 24). 



This species is very common in the East Indian archipelago and the western half of the 

 continent, from Bengal to China ; we have never received it from the peninsula of Southern 

 India or fi-om Ceylon. Motley and Dillwyn say that it haunts the thicker parts of the 

 jungle where there is much low wood, and that it is very active. From its long and graceful 

 form and the beauty of its colours, its movements are very elegant. Old examples are very 

 ferocious ; they prey on birds, lizards, frogs, and, when young, on insects. They attain to a 

 length of more than 7 feet, the tail being rather more than one-third. 



Teagops DISPAE. (Plate XXIII. figs. A, A'.) 



Scales smooth, vnthout apical groove, in fifteen series ; those of the vertebral line four 

 sided, a little larger than those on the side, which are rather narrow, much imbricate, but 

 not very long. Ventrals 151 ; anal bifid; subcaudals 100-105. Rostral shield rather flat, 

 rather longer than broad, with its upper mai'gin somewliat reflexed. Anterior frontals sub- 

 triangular, much longer than broad, bent downwards on the side, in contact with the second 

 upper labial ; posterior frontals longer than broad, rounded behind, not in contact with any 

 of the labial shields. Vertical bell-shaped, elongate behind ; occipitals as long as vertical, 

 rounded and divergent behind. Superciliary and rostral ridge rather sharp. Nasal shield 

 single, very narrow, pierced by the small, round nostril posteriorly; loreal small, always 

 present ; one large prseocular, forming a broad suture mth the vertical ; two postoculars. 

 Eight upper labials, the fourth and fifth of which form the lower part of the orbit ; the 



